Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world with a population of 211 million, some 85% of whom are Muslim and about 10% Christian (20 million).

The Muslim population is at every level split between nationalists who want to retain the secular pluralistic constitution, and those who want Indonesia to become an "Islamic society".

The central government authorities in Jakarta do not have the strength (and possibly not the will) to control political, ethnic and religious tensions that have flared up in troubled provinces.

Ambon continues to suffer under the declaration of holy war, with provocateurs coming in sparking clashes to destabilise the region. Over 25 years, and especially in recent days, East Timor has been ravaged by the violence of militias. In both provinces, political and ideological reasons are part of what lies behind these troubles.

In Ambon (since late 1998) and also East Timor, the TNI (Indonesian Nationalist Armed Forces) and POLRI (Police Force of the Republic of Indonesia) are supposed to solve the problems and promote peace. However, in East Timor, as in Ambon, the TNI and the POLRI have demonstrated their lack of neutrality and have assisted, and worked in collusion with, militias and Muslim mobs, massacring and displacing the unprotected Christian and non-Muslim population.

Numerous pastors, priests, nuns and Christian leaders have been specifically targeted and murdered. Churches, often sheltering terrified people, have nearly all been destroyed. The refugee crisis is enormous. Those who have fled to (Indonesian) West Timor, or have been forcibly deported there, face starvation if they are not executed by militia.

Points For Prayer And Praise:

How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant? (Psalm 94:3)

• Please pray that all Christians within Indonesia will hold fast to the Lord and that he will be their shield and protector. As well as East Timor, provinces such as Irian Jaya, North Sulawesi, East Nusatenggara (includes West Timor and Maluku) have large Christian populations and may be targets for Islamic.

They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. (Ps 94:21,22)

• Praise God for the incredible growth of the Indonesian Church. Pastor Nus Reimas, the secretary of the Indonesian Evangelical Alliance, says that "Church growth in Indonesia seems to be stronger than ever." (July 1999).
• Please pray for the East Timorese and Ambonese refugees, so many of them Christians. Pray for peace for all those grieving, safety for those still in Timor and Ambon, and for spiritual strength in the face of intense suffering.

They crush your people, O Lord; they oppress your inheritance. They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. (Psalm 94:5,6)

• Praise God for the witness and example of Indonesian and Timorese Christian leaders. The Ambonese and Timorese Christians continuing to gather and pray have demonstrated great faith.
• Please pray for the November Presidential elections in Indonesia. Pray for the election of a President who is committed to secular politics, non-sectarianism and peace, and that after the elections there will not be a backlash.
• Praise God that the June elections in Indonesia brought the PDIP to power. Led by Megawati Sukarnoputri, this is a moderate party committed to secular politics and pluralism. It was quite a blow to the Islamic parties and a great relief to Christians.
• Please pray that the international community will be able to persuade Indonesia to find the will and strength to honour its own constitution and put an end to the violence that plagues the nation.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? (Psalm 94:16)

This RL Prayer List exists to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues and particularly to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.

It is sponsored by the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Fellowship.