ASIA/INDONESIA - Ramadan in Moluccas provides opportunities for Muslim - Christian reconciliation

Thursday, 20 October 2005

Ambon (Fides Service) - Local Church sources in Amboina diocese, Moluccas Islands, say Ramadan the annual Muslim month of prayer and fasting is an opportunity for promoting reconciliation and joint social activities. The Catholic community in Ambon is taking advantage of this special month to foster better relations between the local Protestant and Muslim communities, bitter enemies in civil strife in these islands 1999-2001.
For example several local Muslims are offering logistic and other practical advice to the Protestant Church of the Moluccas preparing for an important Synod next week 23 - 30 October. Relations between the former warring parties have improved, Christians are less fearful and many join Muslim neighbours in the daily evening break-fast meal.
. Since the peace agreement signed in Malino in 2002 which ended the fighting, the economy has picked up and social life is back to normal. Christian NGOs and the local Catholic Church continue the work of peace-building and promoting reconciliation in schools and among adult communities. A more relaxed atmosphere is also bringing tourists back to the Islands. Increasing numbers of visitors arrive from Asia and Europe since the Islands borders, closed because of the disorder and to prevent infiltration of instigators from abroad, were reopened in July.
However the main problem in Moluccas is poverty. One fourth of the people in the capital Ambon live in extreme hardship below the poverty line. In this situation the civil authorities, while continuing to receive aid from the United Nations, strive to raise the standard of living encouraging various economic endeavours including tourism. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2005 righe 26 parole 271)


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