[Despite claims that the Laskar Jihad, Indonesia's largest and most militant Islamic militia has disbanded, Christian leaders say the group is still active. Boat loads of militants have left the Malukus provincial capital Ambon, but local Christian leaders say over 1,000 Laskar Jihad members remain. And Christian Ministers in neighbouring Papua say they are being terrorised by Laskar Jihad vigilantes.]

Presenter/Interviewer: Tricia Fitzgerald

Speakers: Christian theologist Professor Nanere, from the Indonesian Maluku Islands; Pastor Terry Joku, of the Papuan provincial capital, Jayapura

Fitzgerald: Last Saturday night, just hours before the Bali bomb blast, the two year old Laskar Jihad militia announced it had disbanded. But in some of Indonesia's eastern Christian dominated islands the group is still very active.

In Papua, which was formerly known as Irian Jaya, Pastor Terry Joku, of the Papuan provincial capital Jayapura, says armed Laskar Jihad squads which have been sent into Papua with support from local military units, are attempting to assassinate him.

Joku: "They are operating in Jayapura here. They are always here; they are in operation here."

Fitzgerald: So what exactly are they doing?

Joku: "They have been killing a few of the West Papuan people here – men and women here."

Fitzgerald: So they have killed several West Papuans?

Joku: "Yes ... several West Papuans. In August they killed 27 West Papuan people and now in October they are operating in Jayapura."

Fitzgerald: What about the Christian ministers like yourself? How are they treating you?

Joku: "The Jihad and Indonesian military Kopassus – they need to kill me. They came to my house at 2 o'clock at night."

Fitzgerald: Pastor Joku says the death threats against him began last year, the day after Papua's independence leader Theys Eluay was murdered. He says it's only because he has security guards from the Papuan Satgas militia, young supporters and many guard dogs that he has been able to fend off repeated attempts on his life.

Joku: "And I was awake at 2 o'clock at night. At midnight I saw them, they were coming to kill me. The Jihad needs to kill me and every night they come to my house. Last night they came to my house at maybe 2 or 3 o'clock."

Fitzgerald: So do you have anyone to protect you?

Joku: "I have here West Papuan – came from West Papuans own people. Yes, young people they came to save me here!"

Fitzgerald: In the neighbouring Maluku Islands, Professor Nanere – a Christian theologist – says hundreds of the militia's members left the provincial capital Ambon on Tuesday to return to Java but many of them remain in the Malukus.

Nanere: "Seven hundred left Ambon, and they still left here something like five hundred – still five hundred."

Fitzgerald: And what about from other parts of the Maluku Islands such as the North Malukus?

Nanere: "Not yet ... not yet. It is still Ambon only Ambon, not yet Ternate."

Fitzgerald: And how many Laskar Jihad do you estimate could be in Ternate?

Nanere: "In Ternate, that is a very rough estimation – it's around 500, 600"

Fitzgerald: And is there any plans for those 500 in Ambon and the 500 in Ternate to leave as the others did?

Nanere: "It is not so clear up to now – it's not so clear."

Fitzgerald: Can you just tell us what sort of activities the Laskar Jihad have been involved in over the last six months or so?

Nanere: "You see a lot of bombs and killing have happened here. It's very sporadic that has happened here in Ambon Island – very sporadic killing and bombs."

Fitzgerald: Just two months ago, Professor Nanere had his house and the Christian Technical College he is attempting to rebuild, destroyed in a bomb attack. I asked him how he felt about the departure of the Laskar Jihad.

Nanere: "I'm very happy, very happy. I hope the rest will leave soon. Laskar Jihad must leave all these conflict areas in Maluku and in Sulawesi because they are the source of the problems. We are really in a very difficult position here."