|
|
|
KASUI:
LITTLE HOPE FOR RETURN OF CHRISTIANS THAT FLED FROM
ISLAMISATION
|
Missionary
Service News Agency
March
08, 2003
|
KASUI: LITTLE HOPE FOR RETURN OF CHRISTIANS
THAT FLED FROM ISLAMISATION
General, Brief
One may remember the Islamisation that starting towards the
end of November 2000 took place on Kasui, a small island
South-East of Seram island, involving some 800 Christians.
Recently a JRS team (Jesuit Refugee Service), stationed in Ambon,
went there and met with local leaders of the various villages and
hamlets on the island, asking them about their stance in case the
Christians would come back to Kasui.
Apparently most of the Muslims did not object to the Christians
returning to their original homesteads. However, village elders in
several other places said did not agree to their returning.
Main reasons they mentioned were: those Christians had become
Muslims, and now they have returned to their original religion,
i.e. Christian. Thus, they are to be regarded as apostates.
Another reason they gave was their fear that these Christians
would take revenge on them because of what had been done to them.
Besides, they did not wish any military security forces to be
placed on the island. Thus the Kasui Christians, most of whom are
staying as refugees in the town of Tual and in various villages on
the island of Kei Kecil, have little hope to be able to return to
their island in the near future. [BP]
|
