CAIRO, January 16 (IslamOnline.net) - Attempts to proselytize traumatized and vulnerable tsunami survivors in Aceh could backfire on much-needed relief efforts in the Indonesian province, a British newspaper warned Sunday, January 15.

The missionary work conducted by a plethora of western Christian groups that poured into the Muslim province after the killer tidal waves is fomenting tension and confrontations with local Muslim leaders, reported The Observer.

Din Syamsuddin, head of the Indonesian Council of Scholars, lambasted repeated and covert attempts to spread Christianity under the cover of aid.

“The Muslim community will not remain quiet. This clear statement, and it is serious,” he warned.

The problems triggered by proselytizing could jeopardize the provision of aid to some 600,000 people made homeless by the monstrous tidal waves spawned by a killer 9.0 magnitude earthquake that claimed the lives of more than 162,000 people, The Observer feared.

Western groups, especially with records of aggressive preaching, did not hide their agendas which go far beyond addressing the victims’ physical needs.

“We also want to expose them to Christian values... so they can see the other side, that we're about the love of Christ,” said William Suhanda.

His group, Light of Love for Aceh, is helping distribute food in Banda Aceh and hopes to bring 50 children to a Christian orphanage in Jakarta.

The Baltimore Sun newspaper has reported that some evangelical groups are mixing missionary work with humanitarian aid in countries ravaged by the tsunamis.

It warned that spreading the Christian faith this way can antagonize the people they were trying to help.

In its fund-raising appeal, WorldHelp said it was working with Indonesian Christians who want to “plant Christian principles as early as possible” in the 300 Muslim children, all under 12.

But the tsunami survivors have become deeply religious because of the unprecedented calamity with some of them seeing it as a punishment from God for immorality.

They recall in this respect that in many villages only the mosque was left standing, The Observer said.

“I had faith but never did what I should have done,” said Shinta Ekhsani, a 29 year-old English teacher.

“I did not pray five times a day. I did not teach my children about Islam. I was too materialistic. Now I have changed.”

Local Muslim groups were among the first to bring help to victims, The Observer added.

They were handing out copies of the Noble Qur’an to Muslims hard-hit by the killer waves.

Volunteers from Al-Azhar Foundation in Jakarta said they had distributed 1,993 copies of the holy book to refugees from Lokh Nga, one of the worst-hit villages.

“Many want to read the Qur’an to help them with their trauma,” said Anwar Sani, director of the foundation.

Muslim organizations worldwide rushed to counter the missionary activities in the poor devastated areas.

Some Muslim groups started arriving in the province within days while donations from Muslims around the world were sent to the disastrous areas.