Surabaya, 21 November 1996

No : 114/FKKS-JT/XI-96

SURABAYA CHRISTIAN COMMUNICATION FORUM:

THE REPORT OF EAST-JAVA SCCF'S ACTIVITIES AND REHABILITATION PLAN

Regarding Black Thursday Incident on October 10, 1996 which took place in Situbondo, East-Java, Indonesia where a destruction and burning against 24 church buildings resulting in 5 people dead occured, East-Java Surabaya Christian Communication Forum (SCCF) has done a series of efforts in forms of law-advocacy, spiritual services and humanities assistance to help the Christian fellows who were stricken by misfortune. Delegates had also been sent to report Situbondo incident to the President and Vice President and to hold an audience with the Chief of Indonesian Legislation Party, National Commision of Human Rights and the Christian leaders in Jakarta. Some difficulties faced (such as socio-psychological trauma, fund, agreement from social figures) cause physical rehabilitation of church buildings/schools/orphanages are cancelled. Nevertheless, with God's guidance, the effort of East Java-SCCF together with Malang Bishopric to make an approach to those parties who are involved in East Java Autonomous Administrative Region I and Situbondo Autonomous Administrative Region II, including a visit to the School of Koranic in Situbondo, yields some progression in speeding up the process of physical and non physical rehabilitation. East Java-SCCF also attempts continuously and consistently to uphold and to fight for the right of Christian community as the citizens of the Republic of Indonesia based on the Constitution 1945 Chapter 29 saying that the State guarantees the freedom for every citizen to embrace a religion and to perform religious services according to their own belief.

In his meeting with 500 Islamic Scholars on November 13, 1996 in Sukorejo, Asembagus, and Situbondo Salafiyah Syafiiyah Schools of Koranic, the Chief of Army Staff, Indonesian National Armed Forced General H.R. Hartono said that (Kompas November 14, 1996, Java Post November 14, 1996 and Surya November 14, 1996) :

1. Through this incident we should be self-introspective so that we do not easily blame others or make scapegoats on that issue and we should assume that this incident is over.

2. We should rebuild a feeling of togetherness and all Situbondo's people should rebuild, shoulder to shoulder, all the facilities that had been damaged, both places of worship and schools as well as orphanages and offices.

3. Each religion has each own teaching, either a teaching of worship or belief. Hence every believer is required to respect one another so that such turbulent incident which can disturb the stability and smoothness of national development will not happen again in the future. This incident has been shameful enough and has been known internationally.

The Rehabilitation Committee of local government of Situbondo Autonomous Administrative Region II has decided in the meeting on November 14, 1996 attended by the Chairman of Conference Agency of Inter Churches that all destroyed church buildings can be soon rehabilitated so that on Christmas Day (December 25, 1996) all church buildings can be put into function again.

Regarding the decision above, East Java-SCCF has made an agreement with Christian leaders in Situbondo that the physical rehabilitation will be started on November 25, 1996 and that each church should form its own Rehabilitation Committee and should bear the responsibility of the implementation. It has also been agreed that the coordinator of the physical rehabilitation is East Java Conference Agency of Inter Churches.

According to Regent's report on October 25, 1996 before East Java Council for Provincial and Lower Level Government Officials Level I and East Java religious leaders in Situbondo, the whole loss amount to 4.8 billion rupiahs. At the same time, the governor of East Java promised to donate as much as 1,5 billion rupiahs with the first priority is school buildings, two orphanages and three church buildings. While the rest of the cost will be afforded together by the society of Situbondo. Because there is still a great lack of fund for this rehabilitation , those who feel burdened to help to speed up the rehabilitation of places of worship and to support East- Java SCCF work-programme (Law Advocacy, Human Resorces production, Communication-Information in forms of bulletin, humane services, meetings with governmental and non-governmental parties) can distribute funds through East-Java SCCF account number : 424.000.000.170 (Robby) in Danamon Bank, BRI Tower Branch, Surabaya, East-Java, Indonesia. To prevent any abuse on Situbondo incident as a way to collect money for personal interest and to split the unity of Christian community by some persons/people/certain social groups, we should appeal for those who want to donate to be careful. To have a clear information, please contact East-Java SCCF.

Meanwhile, the fund which has been and will be expended by East-Java SCCF is about Rp. 120.000.000,- consisting of : Law Advocacy Rp. 30.000.000,- (20 X @ Rp. 1.500.000,-); Communication-Information (bulletin, fax, video, slides) Rp. 25.000.000,-; Secretarial duties Rp. 5.000.000,-; Delegates sending to Jakarta and other cities Rp. 10.000.000,-; Humane services and assistance Rp. 40.000.000,-; Meetings with governmental and non governmental parties Rp. 10.000.000 (for those concerned can ask for more details to the General Treasurer/Robby East-Java SCCF Phone/Fax . 62.31.5678447).

Thus ends our reports. We express our deepest gratitude for those who have helps and all the supports we receive. God bless you all who have and will help to ease the suffering of our brothers in Situbondo and other places in Indonesia.

Surabaya Christian Communication Forum East- Java (c.q. Christian Foundation/Institution, Church Mass Organization and Church Synod in East Java)