E/CN.4/2003/66
page 10
India
40.
The first communication sent to India this year, and the Indian Government’s reply, are
summarized in paragraphs 37 and 38 of the above-mentioned report. The second deals with the
following events.
41.
On 5 May 2002, at least 14 people were reportedly killed and 45 wounded in clashes
between Hindus and Muslims in the latest wave of violence in Gujarat State, which allegedly
started in Ahmedabad when Hindus objected to the return of Muslims to their homes from a
refugee camp. At least 20 shops and many more houses were reportedly set on fire by a mob of
more than 2,000 people in the Behrampura area of Ahmedabad, where Hindus and Muslims live
in close proximity.
Indonesia
42.
The first communication sent by the Special Rapporteur is summarized in paragraph 39
of the above-mentioned report. The second deals with the following incidents.
43.
On 28 April 2002, two days after Jafar Umar Thalib, the leader of the Laskar Jihad,
allegedly called for violence against Christians during his sermon at the Al Fatah mosque, at
least 12 people, including a 9-month-old baby, were killed and 11 injured in the Christian village
of Soya on the outskirts of Ambon in the Moluccas. The attackers, who reportedly wore black
uniforms or Indonesian military uniforms, allegedly set 30 houses on fire and went from house to
house, stabbing and shooting those inside. The victims reportedly included the following
persons: Ado Mustamu; Nike Mustamu; Mrs. Souhoka/Pattileuw; Agnes Monika Souhora;
Idi Patty; Lanny Hitijahubessy; Hein Patty; Lidya Patty; Liberth Rehatta; Grace Mustamu;
Ronald Patiplau; Ances Pesulima; Apne Pesulima; Felix Pesulima; Elska Pesulima;
Michael Mustamu.
44.
On 25 April 2002, the biggest Protestant church, the Silo church, which was being
rebuilt, was reportedly burned during a demonstration allegedly led by the Laskar Jihad
organization. Another attack against the church was allegedly carried out on 28 April 2002.
45.
By letter dated 28 June 2002, the Government replied, inter alia, that it had repeatedly
condemned the acts of violence which have been committed in the Moluccas over the past three
years and have resulted in the deaths of innocent people and the destruction of the region’s
infrastructure. The Government of Indonesia is committed to identifying and bringing to justice
the perpetrators of this terrible crime and to taking comprehensive measures, whether in a
political, cultural, social or religious context.
46.
Following the attack in Soya, the President of Indonesia, the Vice-President and the
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs decided to instruct the local authorities
to fully investigate the attack and to take tough action against those involved. Police arrested the
leaders of both Laskar Jihad and the Maluku Sovereignty Forum (FKM), the two groups believed
to be responsible for the worsening situation in the Moluccas. Jafar Umar Thalib, leader of
Laskar Jihad, was arrested on 4 May 2002 and charged with violating articles 134, 136, 154
and 160 of the Criminal Code, slandering the President and the Vice-President, spreading enmity