Reconciliation goes ahead with soccer in the Moluccas

Two Moluccas Christians murdered but reconciliation goes ahead with soccer

Jakarta (Fides)

While in the Moluccas tolerance and goodwill is growing among most people, some still try to thwart the recent peace agreement which put an end to clashes between the Islands’ Protestant Christian and Muslim communities. Two Christians, father and daughter, found murdered on March 17, may be victims of anti-peace hard liners. These are the first casualties since the signing of a peace agreement n Malino on February 12.

Alexander Puasa aged 46 and his 15 year old daughter Netty, were last seen alive as they went to work in their farm plot on March 16. The alarm was sounded when neighbours saw the father and daughter had not returned home that evening. The bodies were found early on Sunday morning about 200 meters from their farming land. Police autopsies showed that Puasa died of fatal wounds in the chest while several knife wounds in various parts of the body caused the death of Netty. Observers see the double murder as a setback for peace: certain hard line groups on both sides oppose the truce for various reasons and instigate violence, (see Fides 22 March 2002).

Both civil and religious leaders fear the murder may lead to a new outbreak of violence. After the episode the Moluccas governor Saleh Latucosina set up a joint team of investigation comprising police, military civil servants to enforce justice in numerous cases of violation of human rights and common law in the Moluccas.

Meanwhile soccer may help re-build team spirit and friendship among the Islanders. On March 12 there was an opening ceremony of the Moluccas Second Division of the Indonesian League to mark the first soccer competition in Kei Islands, south east Moluccas. Hoping that sport may boost reconciliation in the Moluccas, government, sponsors and donors raised about 27,000 dollars to fund the initiative which involves at least 350 people, players, referees, medical staff etc. In the modern age soccer, probably introduced by Dutch colonialists, became the most popular sport in the region.

Thousands of people flocked to the field for the opening ceremony. The League has six teams: Pesmalra (Kei Islands), Peslaki (Western South-East Moluccas), PSA Ambon, Pes Geser (East Ceram) Pes Tuhelu (Tuhelu village, Ambon) Pes Masohi (Ceram island ). (5/4/2002)