American Baptists gave over $2.5 million for the relief work following the devastating tsunami that hit Indonesia and many other countries on Dec. 26, 2004. Following the threads of peacemaking partnership, I stumbled on the disaster relief work International Ministries has been supporting here in Indonesia. Through Church World Service and Action by Churches Together (ACT) our world relief program led by Lisa Rothenberger has been involved with YTBI, an Indonesian ecumenical relief agency. In April 2005 Lisa visited YTBI and some of the relief projects that received American Baptist support.

But Victor Rembeth, a Baptist leader who is associate director of YTBI, brought me in for conflict transformation purposes. Some of the disasters to which YTBI responds are natural, like the tsunami as well as the earthquakes, floods and volcanoes which so frequently cause distress in this vast populated nation. But other disasters are results of human conflict and violence. Political, ethnic and religious strife erupts again and again from one end of Indonesia to the other. YTBI works in all these areas, often doing community-based conflict mediation. Victor wanted me to provide training for the staff, as they have had little conflict transformation training to supplement and support their own courage and creativity.

Dan talks with participants after a learning activity on trauma healing

Peace-building and relief have had an interesting history in some parts of Indonesia, most notably Aceh. Aceh has been the scene of a severe conflict with an Acenese insurgency seeking to establish independence for the region, and the Indonesian army engaging in a vicious counter-insurgency campaign. Human rights abuses were rampant. Then the tsunami hit Aceh--a disaster that shook the whole world with the horror of its scope. The disaster, however, brought a blessing with it, for the terrible plight brought the enemies to the negotiating table as the people of Aceh, the Indonesian government and the world community tried to work together to rebuild the shattered region. A peace agreement was reached, a surprising consequence of the tsunami. Good news, but wait, for there is another twist to the story.

The tsunami captured the attention and compassion of the world in a way that many other disasters have not. Lots of relief supplies and rebuilding funds have poured in. Now a new conflict is emerging that is threatening to split Aceh once again, but this time along different lines. The people in the coastal areas who suffered from the tsunami are benefiting from all the aid and support of the world, but the people inland, who have also suffered from war and neglect, are still forgotten. They've felt marginalized yet again, and they are raising their voices at the perceived injustices. The tensions are threatening to unravel the peace process, so YTBI staff, along with other non-governmental organizations, are working to deal with the tensions and the underlying problems.

Group from YTBI who participated in the conflict transformation training

Teaching peace-building skills then becomes a vital part of the tsunami relief. Building houses is relatively straightforward, but building communities and nations involves those complex relationships that can be strained by conflict. With Aceh's history of violence, people need to have alternative ways of raising their voices about problems and finding solutions that work for everyone involved. I hadn't planned on being involved in this way during this trip to Indonesia, but about a week before I left one part of my trip was canceled, and God opened up the door to support YTBI in strengthening their capacity to be conflict transformers in the name of Christ. I led two days of intensive training for their program staff, including field personnel and rapid responders. They were so exited about the training and how it spoke to what they faced in the midst of their various situations that they want me to return for a week-long training program as soon as possible. Tsunami relief and peacemaking--who would have thought it? But that's what's needed, and through you and your missionaries and staff and International Ministries we've been able to help!

In peace and hope,

Dan Buttry