Sumatera quake victims and missionary activity

Sumatera quake victims and missionary activity. Sumatra quake victims warned against disguised missionary activity. A local Muslim figure has called on fellow Muslims affected by the recent earthquake not to abandon their religious faith following reports of certain foreign aid workers combining their humanitarian work with missionary tasks of another religion.

Buya H Mas`oed Abidin, former chairman of the West Sumatra chapter of the Indonesian Islamic Propagation Council (DDII), issued the appeal when asked to comment on reports Padang Pariaman police had seized 24 Bibles, a number of leaflets and children`s comic books from members of the local community who had had contact with foreign humanitarian workers.

He said it would be quite regrettable if foreigners were trying to convert quake-affected West Sumatra Muslims away from Islam under the guise of humanitarian work.

Many West Sumatran people were indeed in dire straits, suffering from hunger and other woes because of the September 30 earthquake and therefore needed humanitarian aid. But if aid was given to them with the ulterior purpose of making them abandon their Islamic faith, the aid givers had better move their mission to elsewhere, he said.

Refugees queque for meals and clean water in Padang City, West Sumatra.

"What West Sumatra quake victims need is aid without religious strings attached," he added.

Therefore, he said, quake victims receiving relief aid from foreign parties should not fall for possible attempts to make them change their belief in Islam. They should adhere to the principle to rather remain hungry and homeless than abandon their religious faith.

According to Padang Pariaman police they had identified two foreigners from California whose initials were St and GR as the party that had engaged in missionary efforts while distributing aid to local quake victims.

Assisted by an Indonesian interpreter from Jakarta, identified as Doni, the two-some had also been doling out cash to quake victims at the rate of Rp10,000 per adult and Rp5,000 per child.

"We have made copies of their passports and are now checking for what organization they are working," said Adjunct Commissioner Hendri Yahya, head of the Padang Pariaman police`s criminal investigation unit.

He said police had yet to decide what action needed to be taken against the group but if action was necessary, it would be done by order of the National Police Heaquarters.

The foreign duo`s disguised missionary activity was detected after police received a report that a 48-minute missionary message video was being circulated by cell-phone in Padang Pariaman district. [ antara.com ]

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