Western Resistance: Indonesia: Did Muslims Behead Three Christian Girls?

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October 29, 2005

Indonesia: Did Muslims Behead Three Christian Girls?

Today, the decapitated bodies of three Christian schoolgirls, all aged in their teens, were discovered on a road leading to a school in Poso, Central Sulawesi. The Jakarta Post states that the girls are believed to have been walking to school when they were killed.

The heads of two victims were found nearby, outside a police post, and the other girl's head was found near a Church. A police spokesman would not be drawn on the issue of whether the killers were Muslim, stating: "We are still waiting for results from investigation in the field. We are still trying to determine whether this case is religiously-motivated or not."

Central Sulawesi has an equal number of Christians and Muslims, and in 2001 to 2002 there was a sectarian battle between the two communities in the region, leading to the deaths of 1000 Christians and Muslims. The conflict had been mediated into a truce by the government, but there have since been bomb attacks against Christians, including one bomb attack in Poso market. This attack in May killed 22 people.

The BBC claimed the bomb was in nearby Tentena, a Christian town, and as well as killing 22, it injured over 30.

The fighting four years ago drew Islamic militants from all over Indonesia and many have never gone home.

Analysts say the militants have targeted central Sulawesi and believe that it could be turned into the foundation stone of an Islamic state.

The analysts have warned that the violence could resurface at any time.

The Jakarta Post states that the local Christian population have accused the government in Jakarta of not doing enough to find the perpetrators (of bomb attacks) and bring them to justice.

The attacks against the three girls have been witnessed by a fourth girl, who was part of the group but managed to escape. New Zealand TV's One News reports that she saw six attackers armed with machetes, who were wearing black attire, black face-veils, according to national police spokesman Aryonto Budiharjo. NZTV also quote President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who condemned the killings as "sadist and inhuman crimes". He is said to have convened an emergency security meeting to address the issue.

There was another bomb attack two days ago in Central Sulawesi, according to Maj. Sambas Kurniawan of the town of Parigi. The bomb exploded on a minibus which was travelling to the mainly Christian town of Tentana from the mostly Muslim Central Sulawsei capital, Palu. 11 people were on board. The low-intensity bomb, placed under a seat, injured one person, according to MercuryNews.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 29, 2005 7:27 AM