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Ibu** Mieke explained to Open Doors how the conflict affected those women.
Traumatic Experience
Since the conflict four years ago, trauma among the women survivors has decreased, but many are still haunted with flashbacks of their traumatic experiences. “Some of these women saw their husbands and children killed in front of them,” Ibu Mieke explained. “That is not easy to forget.” Trauma counseling has been one of GPM’s main goals, “We minister to them. We pray together with them. We engage them in positive activities that would distract their mind from thinking too much about the past,” she added.
Torn-apart Homes
Women who did not experience loss in the family have their own struggles. Many lost homes and had to stay in barracks and emergency tents before they resettled to their new places.
During their stay in temporary barracks, families had to share space with other families. “The level of adultery suddenly increased after the conflict. We saw an apparent moral degradation in those days. Even young women were sexually harassed by older men,” Ibu Mieke said. The situation improved after families moved from the temporary barracks, but many are still struggling over this issue. Although there has been no case of divorce, many couples live separately now. “The church has been struggling to reunite these families,” she added.
Financial Challenges
An estimated 20 percent of Masohi women have had to take over the role of family head and breadwinner. These widows and single parents must work twice as hard as before, especially due to the increasing cost of living in Maluku after the conflict.
Many of these women work as farmers, vendors or office workers. “The church has been empowering local women with practical skills so that they can stand on their own feet. But we need more of such programs,” Ibu Mieke reported.
Emotional Gap Within the Society
Christian and Muslim communities have reconciled in the past years. Nevertheless, distrust between the two communities remains.
“Back in the past, I had no problem asking one of my Muslim neighbors to look after my child when I left home. But now, I can’t do that anymore. It is still hard to trust completely,” Ibu Mieke explained. Even within the Christian community, there is distrust among women. “Masohi is a small place. Everyone knows each other. And these women, they knew the ladies who their husbands cheated with. The women are still suspicious,” she said.
Faith After Conflict
It is encouraging to see that none of the women lost their faith. “Widows still attend the church faithfully,” Ibu Mieke said. In fact, the ladies have become more intimate with God since the riots. After losing almost everything, God has become their only source of hope. “There is a stronger sense of belonging and unity among the women. Now, there is no such thing as ‘poor woman’ or ‘rich woman,’” she continued. The women have learned the importance of taking care of and helping one another, especially through difficult times. Though meeting everyday needs is important, to these women material possession is still secondary. “For many of these women, it does not matter if they have nothing, as long as they’re still alive,” she added. These women had a second shot at life, and though the future offers no bright path, they have chosen to live by faith. In May 2007, Open Doors Australia sent a team of women to Indonesia to conduct Post-Trauma Counseling Training and to encourage Maluku women through prayer and fellowship.
* More Muslims (170 million) live in Indonesia than any other country on earth. That is why Indonesia is included in the "Muslim World" region.
**Indonesian word to address an older lady |
were affected by the riots.
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