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Indonesia

• Anniversary of Bali Bombings Marked by Attacks on Christians

  As the world remembered the one-year anniversary of the nightclub bombings in Bali, Indonesia, which killed over two hundred foreigners, violence in Christian areas of Indonesia erupted.

  On September 28, a church worker found a bomb in the Gereja Kristen Sulawesi Tengah church in Tomata village. The police were able to remove the bomb and detonate it without any injuries. There have been several other bomb threats against churches in recent weeks.

  According to a report from International Christian Concern, a Christian convert from Islam, Mr. Jono, age 44, was murdered on the streets of Pandiri village in broad daylight on October 1. The attackers were followed to a primarily Muslim village where they escaped.

  On the night of October 10, residents in the village of Old Beteleme, Central Sulawesi woke to cries of "Allahu Akbar" and gunshots. By the time the attack ended, two people were dead, six missing, and several injured. Another man later died of injuries. Thirty-eight homes and an Assembly of God church were also destroyed. According to Sunday's Jakarta Post, three men have been detained for questioning.

  Hours before the memorial for the Bali bombings, there was a coordinated attack on four primarily Christian villages near the town of Poso in Central Sulawesi province on October 12: Saatu, Pinedapa, Pantangolemba and Madale. Reports on the actual number of casualties vary, but at least eight and possibly up to fifteen Christians were killed, several were wounded, and dozens of homes and a church building were burned. Gunmen dressed in black fatigues and masks entered the towns, killing the fleeing villagers, and then disappeared into the surrounding hills. Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha believes that this attack may be linked to the October 10 attack on Old Beteleme.

  Around 8:00 p.m. on Monday, October 13, the nearby village of Betania was rocked by a bomb blast outside a house. While there were no casualties, the explosion caused panic among the residents who expected gunshots to follow the explosion.

  In response to these attacks, as many as 8,000 additional forces are being sent into Central Sulawesi to restore peace. On Tuesday, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, where he held meetings with military officers, the National Intelligence Agency and the Governor Aminuddin Ponulele in Palu. On Wednesday morning he traveled to Poso to assess the situation and hold talks with local religious leaders.

  Pray that efforts by the Indonesian government to restore peace will be successful and that these attacks will not lead to further violence or any retaliation. Pray that those responsible for this violence will be brought to justice. Pray for inner peace for Christians living in fear of further attacks.

• Cleric Acquitted of Leading Church Attacks

  Yesterday (September 1) an Indonesian court convicted Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir of treason and immigration charges and sentenced him to four years in jail. He was, however, acquitted of more serious charges when the judges ruled that there was not sufficient evidence to convict him of leading the militant Islamic group Jemaah Islamiah (JI). This group has been responsible for several attacks on churches, including attacks in December 2000, which left nineteen people dead. Prosecutors alleged that Ba'asyir had approved the church attacks. JI, which has links to al Qaeda, has also been blamed for last year's bombing of a nightclub in Bali and a failed assassination attempt on Indonesian President, Megawati Sukarnoputri.

  Pray that this ruling will not stir up further militancy by Islamic groups in Indonesia. Pray for protection for Christians throughout Indonesia, as tensions continue.

• Troubles for Christians Increasing

  Since Pastor Rinaldy Damanik was sentenced to three years in prison on June 16 (see https://www.vomcanada.com/id-2003-06-18.htm for more details), observers have been reporting increasing violence against Christians. According to International Christian Concern (ICC), a Christian was shot to death on July 10 in broad daylight at his plantation. The same day a bomb destroyed a restaurant owned by Christians in another village and two days later a Christian police officer was shot while riding a motorcycle.

  The family members of Damanik, as well as his lawyers, have been threatened since the appeal of his conviction was filed. According to Compass Direct, the names of Damanik's supporters were published in local newspapers with threats that they, too, would be arrested. Damanik has been warned that family members and friends will be kidnapped if his appeal proceeds.

  Adding to tensions between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia, a law was passed on June 11 stating that any school with more than ten students of a particular faith must provide a teacher of that same faith to teach their religion and provide a place of worship. While the wording appears to be fair, the impact of the law will be felt most by private Christian schools. Few Christian students attend private Muslim schools, but up to 65% of all students in Christian schools are Muslim because of the excellent quality of education offered. These schools will now be required to build mosques and hire Islamic religious teachers. Many schools have said they will ignore the new law.

  Pray that Pastor Damanik's conviction will be overturned and that family and friends will be kept safe. Pray that tension between Christians and Muslims in Indonesia will not again build to the point of violence, as seen in recent years.

• Church Leader Sentenced to Three Years

  The district court in Palu, Central Sulawesi, has convicted Rev. Rinaldy Damanik of illegal possession of arms and ammunition and sentenced him to three years in prison. He was found guilty of possessing seven unregistered rifles, four guns and 144 rounds of ammunition, found in his possession as he was helping to evacuate people terrorized in the Poso area on August 17, 2002. Damanik was a leader in the Malino peace agreement that formed a foundation for peace in the troubled Poso area of Indonesia. He claims that the police planted the weapons.

  According to The Jakarta Post, Damanik's lawyer is urging his client to appeal because of the lack of evidence. Indonesia's foremost legal expert had testified during the trial that Damanik's arrest had been "engineered" by the police and prosecutors to make him a scapegoat. The prosecution's key witness, one of Damanik's drivers, admitted that he had been beaten and forced to sign a statement without reading it. At the end of the trial, Judge Somanada stated that the prosecution had failed to present a cohesive case. Despite this, Damanik expected to be convicted. According to David Mundy from Jubilee Campaign USA, "In a culture infused with saving face, it is nearly impossible that Damanik could be completely acquitted."

  Continue to pray for Rev. Damanik as he remains in prison. Pray that truth will take precedence in this case. Pray that the peace for which Damanik struggled will continue.

• Islamic Cleric on Trial

  On April 14, Abu Bakar Bashir, a Muslim cleric accused of leading the Jama'ah Islamiyah (JI) terror network, was charged with treason. He is alleged to have helped plan a series of bombings on Christmas Eve 2000 which left 19 dead. He is also accused of involvement in a foiled attempt to bomb foreign embassies in Singapore. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment or the death sentence.

  His lawyers are attempting to have him released until his trial because of his age and health, but it is expected that Indonesia's president will insist that he remain in prison. There are fears that, if released, he would disappear and be unavailable for trial.

  The fact that Bashir is being charged at all is seen by many as a positive move, since the Indonesian government has been reluctant to put accused Muslim terrorists on trial for fear of antagonizing Indonesia's predominantly Muslim population.

  This trial comes at the same time that Rev. Rinaldy Damanik is facing weapons charges and remains in custody despite being very weak. Recent reports indicate that the prosecution has yet to produce any real evidence or credible witness. Christians in Indonesia contend that Damanik was framed by the police.

  Pray that Bashir will remain in jail until the trial and that he will be convicted of the crimes he has committed. Pray for justice for Rev. Damanik and that there will be a move toward more equitable justice in Indonesia.

• Trial of Pastor Begins

  During this week's trial of Rev. Rinaldi Damanik, General Secretary of the Synod of the Protestant Church of Central Sulawesi, he denied ever possessing a weapon, let alone the fourteen handmade guns and ammunition reportedly found in his vehicle. Rev. Damanik's trial began on February 3 but was then postponed until February 10. He is accused of carrying weapons while traveling between Christian villages under attack in August 2002. He maintains that the police set him up when he was stopped.

  Damanik was a leader in the peace negotiations to stop the violence in Central Sulawesi. While a leader of the militant Islamic Laskar Jihad has been released (see last week's Persecution & Prayer Alert at www.vomcanada.com/pnparchive/arch3.htm), Damanik faces up to twenty years in prison if convicted. It is feared that Damanik will be a scapegoat to deflect attention from the continuing sympathy for militant Islam within the Indonesian government. According to Radio National from Australia, his lawyers allege that Damanik is a victim of political power plays by the elite and of State-sponsored terrorism. When asked what they thought of the legal system, Damanik's legal team stated, "Of all the systems in Indonesia, the legal system is the most rotten."

  Pray that truth will reign and that there might be fairness in the trial. Pray that the peace begun in Indonesia will continue.

• Jihad Leader Acquitted

  An Indonesian court acquitted a leader of the Laskar Jihad on January 30; a decision which has caused concerns among Christians in the country who have faced persecution, destruction and death at the hands of the militant Islamic group. Jafar Abu Thalib faced charges of inciting violence against Christians after a speech last April in Ambon in which he condemned a small Christian separatist group, calling on Muslims to take up arms. Soon afterwards, armed militants attacked a small village near by, killing 13 Christians.

  In his ruling acquitting Jafar, the judge ruled that Jafar was merely exercising his freedom of speech. In referring to the separatist group, the judge also justified Jafar's speech saying, "the government is trying very hard to safeguard the unity of the nation. Awards can be given to those who, without reserve, uphold the unity of our country, Indonesia."

  Though the Laskar Jihad has supposedly been dissolved, Christians in Indonesia have raised concerns for their safety. According to CNSNews, Fr. Cornelius Bohm of the Ambon Crisis Center views the trial outcome as further indication of the influence of militant Muslims in Indonesia. "The government is afraid of them and gives them a little pleasure every now and then to keep them calm," he said.

  Pray that militant Islamic groups will not see this as justification to renew their attacks against Christians. Pray that the peace in the Molucca region of Indonesia will continue. Pray for peace of mind as well for those facing uncertainty and fear.