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October 30, 2005
Indonesia: Muslim Sect's Leader At Large, 117 Followers Surrender
On October 26, we reported on a clash between police and machete-wielding Islamic cult-members, which happened near Palu, in eastern Sulawesi. The police were trying to arrest the sect's leader.
There have been more developments in this case. The sect is called the Mahdi sect, named after Mahdi, their 27-year old leader. The Jakarta Post reports that a key leader of the group has been arrested on Saturday outside Palu. This man, who is called Lagu, also known as Arifin, was charged with the killing of Palu poiceman, First Brigadier Arwan Arysad during Tuesday's clashes.
This has been the first arrest of a prominent member of the sect since the clashes on Tuesday between 16 men and dozens of Mahdi sect members in Gawalise, a hilly region outside Palu. Three police officers two sect members died. Now dozens of sect members have been arrested, and eight of these have been named as suspects in the killings.
While Lagu was arrested in Donggala regency on Saturday morning, the revolcer and bullets of Adj. Com. Imam, one of the killed officers, was seized.
Detectives are sill trying to find Mahdi, not only to question him about Tuesday's clash, but also for "spreading heretical Islamic beliefs".Xinhua Net reports that a total of 117 Mahdi followers, inclding 32 men, 40 women and 45 children had surrendered to local police.Mahdi's dogma reportedly centers on his rejection of certain aspects of both Islam and Christianity. He preaches that sect members will be declared pure after they free themselves from Islamic and Christian practices such as fasting, going to church or doing regular prayers
After Tuesday's raid, three police had been taken hostage, and on Wednesday a massive helicopter and 300 police search was mounted. The three hostages were recovered alive on Thursday near Salena, the hamlet where the sect was centred.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 30, 2005 12:05 PM
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