UN Warns against Attack on Relief Workers in Indonesia

Relief work has been continuous following on from the aftermath of the tsunami in South East Asia. While the mission to save lives is the first priority at this critical time, the United Nations on Monday declared a state of "heightened awareness" for U.N. relief workers in Indonesia and warned them against terrorist attacks targeting foreign humanitarian groups.

The warning has emerged as the UN and World Food Program (WFP) are investigating a warning issued by the Danish Foreign Ministry of an "imminent terror attack". The UN and the WFP instructed all UN staff in Indonesia to observe a heightened awareness and take all security precautions necessary.

Especially in the province of Aceh, one of the worst hit areas, the situation is very sensitive resulting from the tension between Christians and Muslims. While many Christian charities are working in the province after the tsunami tragedy, some Muslims have claimed that these Christians are trying to evangelise among tsunami survivors through their relief work.

Dien Syamsuddin, secretary-general of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas, or religious scholars described this as a "hidden agenda". He clearly stated that those who are coming to the country with humanitarian purposes but instead are proselytising are not welcomed.

One of the US based welfare group WorldHelp had planned to adopt 300 Acehnese children orphaned by the disaster and raise them in a Christian children's home. However, the plan was dropped finally to avoid a serious clash with a group of Muslims who were sensitive to the plan. A senior Indonesia Muslim leader even said last week a serious backlash from Muslims would result if Christians tried to convert people through their relief work.

The Danish warning is currently under investigation, however, Niels-Erik Andersen of the Danish Foreign Ministry's security section said, "We got some information that we gauged were credible and trustworthy and decided to publish it." He mentioned other countries which he refused to identify had received the information and also took it seriously.

While the UN has focused on the investigation, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa argued whether the UN warning was necessary. Natalegawa promised that the Indonesian government would assure the safety and security of all humanitarian workers in Aceh.

"We would be keen to find out from the Danish authorities the source of the alleged threat. It is important not to be distracted from the main issue at hand, namely the saving of lives," he said.