By the end of 1998, she noted, the total had jumped to 500. But, praise the Lord, the number of people going to church is increasing. An ecumenical team representing the World Council of Churches and Christian Conference of Asia visited Indonesia Jan. 27-Feb. However, the nine-member team, which visited with President B.J. Habibie, did call upon the Indonesian government to identify quickly and bring to justice those responsible for burning and destroying places of worship, and for the violence targeted at Christians, Muslims or the ethnic Chinese minority. The center receives financial support from the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
People look for somebody to blame.
The ethnic Chinese were a handy target. Many Chinese businessmen did accept the opportunities offered by a corrupt government, according to Natasha. They grew wealthier and stronger together with many of the native businessmen and the high officers. Yet now, only the Chinese are being blamed. Another factor is that parts of the military still loyal to Suharto may be provoking violence, according to both Young and David Wu, a Board of Global Ministries executive.