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October 1, 2006

Indonesia: Muslims Stab Christian, Burn Church On Poso

Poso in Central Sulawesi province, Indonesia, has become notorious for its conflicts between Muslims and Christians, who inhabit the town and district in roughly equal measure. On September 20, three Catholics, Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, Dominggus da Silva, 42, were executed by firing squad for their alleged part in encouraging fatal attacks upon Muslims in Poso in May 2000.

Since Christmas 1998, major conflicts have taken place between the two faith communities. Between 2001 to 2002 these became exceptionally violent, with at least 1,000 people killed in sectarian conflict. These incidents were part of a wider war which raged in the Moluccan islands from 1999 to 2002, which had been instigated by Islamist militants of the Lashkar Jihad, and which saw 9,000 people, mostly Christians, being killed. In the Moluccan islands, there were 4000 cases of Christians being forcibly converted to Islam. Many of these, women included, were subjected to circumcisions.

Though the major conflict ended in 2002, there were subsequent attacks, such as a bomb in Tentena market in May last year, which killed 22 and injured more than 30, most of these Christians. On October 29, during Ramadan, Islamists decapitated three Christian girls on Poso, and severely wounded another. There were further killings in Central Sulawesi throughout November, with two Christian girls in Poso shot in the head (surving despite their injuries) on November 8, and more fatal machete and shooting attacks on Christian girls.

On December 30 a bomb aimed at Christians killed six people and injured 40 more in Palu, again in Central Sulawesi.

There were sporadic attacks, mostly against Christians, since then. But the issue of the three Catholics who were executed on September 20 this year have exacerbated the situation. Before the executions were carried out, two Christians were killed in attacks - a man was killed on September 4 by a bomb, and on September 9, a woman was killed when a bomb was thrown at her home. Four Muslims admitted that they had carried out the attacks, blaming the issue of the three Catholics whose executions had been delayed.

Following the executions of Tibo, Riwu and da Silva, it was the turn of Christians to riot. At Poso, thousands of Christians took to the streets, looking for Muslim motorists. Police had to seal off the area. Tyres were burned on the street, and protesters threw rocks at policemen. A policeman was injured.

Yesterday, according to Antara News, three explosions went off in Poso in Central Sulawesi.

The first explosion happened at 1.20 am local time, in Papua Seram Street in Gebangrejo village. The explosion took place outside the Eklesia church. No-one was injured, and the building remained undamaged.

At 2.45 am, two more bombs went off at almost the same time as each other. One bomb went off in front of a fish market, and another detonated about 50 yards from Poso bus station. Again no-one was injured. All three bombs appeared to be home-made, said a police spokesman.

On Friday, September 29, a police station was attacked in nearby Taripa area.

Today, according to the Jakarta Post, a Muslim mob set fire to partially constructed church in Poso early in the morning. The church was located in a Muslim part of the town, stated a police commander.

Later in the day, Muslims pulled a Christian off a bus in downtown Poso, and stabbed him in the back. Associated Press stated that the mob dispersed when police arrived at the scene. The injured man was taken to Poso hospital.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 1, 2006 1:56 PM

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