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Indonesia

• Update on Violence in Poso

  Girl Martyred on October 29

  In the past month, horrendous stories have come out of Indonesia with the beheading of three young girls in Poso on October 29 and the shooting of two other girls on November 8.  We are saddened to report that one of the two shot, a Muslim girl walking with her Christian friend, died the next day.  One man has reportedly been arrested.

  News services reported last week that five men had been arrested for the beheadings.  On November 12, they were released for lack of evidence.  The families continue to plead for justice.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  (Source: The Jakarta Post)

• Two Girls Shot in Poso

  

  Two high school girls are in critical condition after being shot point blank at 7:45 p.m. on November 8 near a Pentecostal church.  Ivone (last name unknown) and (Yuli) Siti Nuraini, both 17 years old, were shot by men on a motorcycle in the Gatot Subroto area of Poso. Ivone was shot in the left jaw, while Yuli was wounded in the neck.  They are presently in hospital in critical condition.

  This incident follows the shocking attack on four Christian girls in the same city on October 29 when three were beheaded (click here for the story).  Hundreds of troops have been dispatched to the area. There are reports that the attackers have been arrested but no names have yet been released.  This recent shooting, however, demonstrates that the danger from militant Islamic groups has not abated.

  (Sources: AsiaNews, The Jakarta Post, Kyodo News)

• Three Teenage Girls Beheaded

  Three teenage girls in Central Sulawesi suffered a grisly death on Saturday, October 29. The girls were all students of a Christian high school. Theresia Morangkir, Alfita Poliwo, Yarni Sambue and Noviana Malewa were walking to school through a cocoa plantation in Poso Kota when they were attacked by men dressed in black and wielding machetes. Therisia, Alfita and Yarni were beheaded. Noviana managed to fend off her attackers and run away, but suffered severe gashes to her face.

  The severed heads of the dead girls were found several miles away from the bodies. One was placed in front of a church and the other two near a police station. Upon his hearing of the murders, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono cancelled all his prior appointments in order to meet with security officials. While police have increased patrols in the area, no further violence has been reported and no suspects have been apprehended.

  Please pray for the families who are grieving the terrible loss of these young girls. Pray that the Lord will surround them with comfort and emotional healing. Pray that the pain the people are experiencing will not turn into increased violence again in Central Sulawesi. Pray also for physical and emotional healing for Noviana who is recovering from serious facial wounds. Finally, remember to pray that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice and that they will know and respond to the love of Christ.

  For more information on these and other incidents of persecution against Christians in Indonesia,click here. VOMC's multimedia website, www.vomcanada.com, features a 21-minute video on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled, "Island Jihad."

• Continued Closures Face Churches

  Contacts for The Voice of the Martyrs Canada in Indonesia report a series of new church closures on the Indonesian island of Java.  In each case, the Islamic militant group, Alliance Against Apostasy (AGAP) intimidated the churches and forced the closure of services.

  On October 2, the AGAP put pressure the Efata Church in Bandung, West Java to stop renovations and all other church activities, claiming the church did not have the necessary permissions.  As a result, all activities of the 120-member church have been stopped.

  Three churches near Jakarta, in Jatimulya, East Bekasi, were forced to close five weeks ago.  Since then, they have been holding services on the streets.  In an attempt to stop the services, on Sunday, October 16 three hundred Muslims gathered with their prayer mats to conduct their own service where the Christians normally meet.  When the Christians moved to another street, some militants began insulting and mocking them.  Pastor Anna from the local Presbyterian Church was pushed into a drain.  Police in the area did not intervene. Some even reportedly joined the mob.  Church leaders have been meeting with lawyers to determine an appropriate response.  There are concerns of physical violence if the church services are held this coming weekend.

  Pray for wisdom and strength for the church leaders facing this increasing pressure from militant groups.  Pray that these believers will know how to respond in a way that exhibits the grace and love of God. For more information on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia,click here.  VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/, features a 21-minute video on the persecution of Christians in Indonesia entitled, "Island Jihad."

• Church in Bandung Forced to Close

  

  On September 29, an Indonesian Assembly Pentecost Church in the Katapang sub-district of Bandung, West Java was forced to close.  Local community leaders met with the pastor and other leaders, and insisted that the church be shut down.  Eventually the church leaders were pressured into signing a letter agreeing to the demand.

• Christian Assassinated

  At noon on October 3 in the village of Pantengolemba in Poso, a fifty-three-year-old man, Pamilton Tadoa, was shot in the head and killed as he rode his motorbike to the school where he served as treasurer.  The assassin has not been identified.  Pamilton was a member of the Tabernakel Pentecostal Church.

• Islamic Groups Threaten to Destroy a Christian School

  Hundreds of Muslims in Cikampek, sixty-five kilometres southeast of Jakarta, took to the streets after Friday prayers on September 23 to protest the building of a school funded by a Christian foundation.  Construction of the school had been stopped in 2004 after repeated vandalism and violence against the foundation. 

  (Source: AsiaNews)

• Mobs Close Churches

  The Voice of the Martyrs has received news on the closure of three more Indonesian churches this month, despite pressure on the government to prevent such closures.

  VOMC sources in Indonesia report that, on September 3, approximately 300 militant Muslims closed a house in Madegondo village, Grogol, Sukoharjo, claiming that it was being used illegally for Christian worship.  The three-story building was the home of Pastor Syarif Hidayatullah, who had applied for permission to use the top floor as a place of worship.  On Saturday evening, the mob surrounded the home, preventing police from intervening.  Finally the chief of police succumbed to the crowd's demands and cosigned the order to seal the home.

  The Australian Broadcasting Corporation also reports that two churches in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta were blocked by militants on the same weekend, forcing 500 Christians to worship on the streets.

  Pray that the authorities will crack down on militant Islamic groups in Indonesia.  Pray for wisdom and strength for Christian leaders, as they deal with the increasing threat of violence from these groups.

  For more information on the pressure facing the Indonesian Church,click here.  To view video reports and testimonies from Indonesia, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/.

• Update: Indonesian Women Appeal Sentence

  Three Indonesian Christians convicted of attempting to convert Muslim children to Christianity have filed an appeal of their conviction.  On September 1, a district court sentenced Rebekka Zakaria, Ety Pangesti and Ratna Bangun to three years in prison amidst protests and threats from militant Islamic groups.  Continue to pray for justice for Rebekka, Ety and Ratna.

  The October edition of The Voice of the Martyrs newsletter will feature their story and the persecution facing Christians in Indonesia.  To subscribe to our free newsletter, click here.

• Three-Year Sentences for Attempting to Convert Muslim Children

  On September 1, an Indonesian court sentenced three Indonesian women to three-year sentences for allegedly attempting to convert Muslim children to Christianity.  In actuality, Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun had required all children attending their program to get parental permission to attend.  Furthermore, no children were known to have converted to Christianity because of the program.  Proof for the accusations came from photographs showing Muslim children at the program.

  Throughout the trial, Islamic militants had threatened the lives of the women, Christian leaders and even the judges if there was not a conviction.  On the final day, a group arrived with a coffin, saying it was for the women, if they were acquitted. 

  Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun in Court; Protestors Outside Courthouse

  The women plan to appeal, but observers are sceptical whether true justice is possible in the face of the intimidation that was clearly evident during their trial.

  Pray for peace and strength of mind and spirit as these three servants of God serve their time in prison.  Pray for wisdom for the upcoming appeals. 

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in Indonesia,click here.  A twenty-one minute video on the plight of Christians in Indonesia, entitled "Island Jihad," is available on VOMC's multimedia website, https://www.vomcanada.com/.  The October edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will feature an article on Indonesia's courageous Christians.  To ensure that you receive a copy, subscribe today.