Report from Indonesia
IFC Director: Carl Cady
March 23, 2002

Dear Friends--

I have been sharing the needs of the persecuted saints of Indonesia wherever the door opens. It has been exciting and wonderful to see the concern and prayers go up for these afflicted people of Indonesia.

I just received a report from Peter and Esther Scarborough who are members of the IFC staff in Manado. Esther is leading the medical team and Peter is an accountant who is caring for the IFC accounts. They are a true blessing to the ministry. They have reported a recent decision by the Indonesian government that has grave implications for the refugees. The Indonesian government has told the refugees in the camps that all the camps will be closed in April and have left these people confused and unaware of their future.

This is another effort by the government to eliminate the problem. They want these people to go back to their homes and villages but can't assure them of their safety. If it were safe for them to return I would be delighted to see them go back. In most places they can't go back. There is no effort to provide lasting security. Some who have tried to go back and have found their land possessed by some of the same people who terrorized them and their families. They are also told they cannot build churches or have church meetings.

Especially difficult are those who would go back to Ternate. This is the capital of North Maluku. This city is now under "Islamic Law". How are the Christians going to start a new life if they are not allowed to "be Christian"? I met with a young woman in Manado who was from Ternate. She had lost 53 members of her family because of the jihad attacks. I asked her if she could go back and she said it was not possible. She was living in one of the refugee camps that is closing.

Please read this letter prayerfully.

Letter from IFC staff, Peter and Esther Scarborough, in Manado

Dear praying friends,

Please uphold the refugees in prayer.

They have received an order that all refugee camps must be closed in April. They are confused and fearful. Some believe they will be sent to areas where they will be targeted by the Jihad. Others know they cannot return to their homes but do not know where they will be sent. I have copied an email I have sent to the member for Casey, Mr. Tony Smith, who is to make a speech in parliament concerning the situation the Sulawesi refugees face. Here is the body of that email:

Dear Tony,

Further to my recent emails on the refugee crisis here in Sulawesi, I now have some additional information:

On Sunday I was called to an urgent meeting of the leaders of all the refugee camps in Northern Sulawesi. They have received an order that all refugee camps across Indonesia are to be closed. The camps in Sulawesi are to be closed in April. People are to be repatriated or relocated, depending on the situation in their home towns.

The response of the refugee leaders to this order (which was published in the newspaper) was:

1. They do not trust the central govt. They think they may be relocated to areas that are not stable or that may be targeted by the Jihad soon.

2. The order is not clear in that they do not know where they are to go if the camps are closed. They are very uncertain about their future. They have been through enough.

3. They want to be told personally by the govt ministers what lies ahead. They certainly do not feel cared for by the govt and would like a special committee or a minister to have responsibility for refugees. At present orders are issued from several departments.

4. They feel they are treated like "things" and not people.

5. Those that cannot return to places such as Ternate and Tidore would like compensation for all they have lost.

6. There are some areas that have been declared safe for them to return, but should they return they have would have restrictions placed on them. One such example is Bacan where representatives of the Christian community visited in November. They were asked to sign an agreement by the Islamic leaders that the minority religion in each village be prohibited from building a place of worship. They were also asked to sign that no Ambonese Pastors be allowed to go to Bacan. They refused to sign and do not feel safe to return.

7. The parting words I received to be passed on to you were from a young man from North Maluku. He says to you:

"Please do not forget the youth of the Maluku islands. Do not let go of our hands."


I told the assembled leaders that I would contact you and ask that my government encourage the Indonesian govt to give more attention to the refugees than what is presently being given.

Continually the message I received was that they trust the international community and see their problem as an international one and not a local one.

I trust you can convey the feelings of fear and uncertainty that these refugees have to your fellow MPs. I trust that a message can be relayed to the Indonesian govt encouraging them to be more sensitive to the needs of Christian refugees in Sulawesi and Halmahera.

I trust that the email above gives you an understanding of the plight of these dear brothers and sisters. These people need a hope, they need a future. They need to be treated with respect and cared for.

Final word from Carl Cady

We are committed to helping these refugees. There are Christian refugees in several places throughout Indonesia. We have been caring for those in Manado (47,000), Central Sulawesi (50,000), and Halmahera (over 70,000). These efforts makes it more important that someone stand with these people. We are not a large organization but we provide all we have for the needs of the refugees. We will still feed and provide care for these afflicted people. IFC has earned the respect and confidence of the refugees. We will "hold their hands" until they are stable and self-supporting. This is our call and our joy.

Please pray for them as they are facing hard choices. Pray for their basic needs to be met.

Pray for Peter and Esther and the rest of the team in Manado as they lovingly care for the refugees in these important days. Esther is caring for the TB patients. She is trying to save the lives of those she can. What would be the effect of sending possibly hundreds of those infected with TB throughout the region? The loss of life could be huge. There needs to be consideration for the effects of sending infected people into the region without first treating them.

Please contact national leaders who might be able to advocate for the refugees of this region.

These people don't trust the government leaders to be fair and honest with them. They have had so many promises broken or just forgotten. They don't have guarantees of safety and freedom to worship if they go back to the Maluccas. They believe they may be targeted by Jihad militia for attacks if they go back to some unsafe areas. Many of these people have had loved ones killed in the last three years of attacks by the jihad militia and have had their homes destroyed. They have lost so much and fear losing their lives if they go back to situations where the government can't provide security.

Thanks so much for your concern and please do what you can to be an advocate.

Blessings--Carl Cady
US Director of IFC