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October 16, 2006
Indonesia: Islamists Shoot Christian Priest On Sulawesi
The Indonesian province of Central Sulawesi has seen a resurgence of violence against Christians lately. From 1999 to 2002, at least 1,000 people died in Muslim/Christian sectarian conflict, which was part of the wider Moluccan War, which had been initiated by the Lashkar Jihad, an Islamist group led by Jaffar Umar Thalib.
Last year, a bomb attack in May at a market in Tentena, a Christian town in the province, saw 22 people killed and 30 injured. But on October 29 2005, four Christian girls were attacked as they went to school. Three of the girls - Ida Yarni Sambue (15), Theresia Morangke (15), and Alfita Poliwo (19) - were decapitated, and the other - Noviana Malewa - was left for dead. On November 28, two Christian girls were shot in the head at point-blank range. They survived, and it was later revealed that their assailant was a Muslim police officer.
More attacks upon Christians continued in November in Poso and Pau in Central Sulawesi, with several killed. Machete attack on a group of three Christian girls in Palu saw one girl nearly losing her arm and another, called Afrianti, dying from a chop to the neck.
On December 30, a bomb was set off in a pork market frequented only by Christians, killing six people in Palu.
Attacks on Christians continued at the start of this year.
Recently, the killings and attacks have started again. On September 10 we wrote that on September 9, a 20-year old Christian woman died after a bomb was thrown at her house in Poso town, and on September 6, a 50-year old Christian man, John Tobeli, was killed by a bomb in Poso district.
On October 1, we wrote that bombs went off in Poso, with the first being detonated outside a church. That day, a Christian was dragged from a bus by Muslims in Poso and stabbed. He survived.
Today, states AKI, a Christian priest has been shot dead in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi province.
At 8.15 this morning, local time, Irianto Kongkoli was shot in the head while visiting a shop.
Antara reports that Reverend Irianto Kongkoli was secretary general of Central Sulawesi`s Christian church synod. He was buying building materials on Monginsidi street in Palu. His wife was also injured in the attack by an unidentified gunman.
On September 22, three Christians, Fabianus Tibo, 60, Marinus Riwu, 48, and Dominggus da Silva, 42 were executed for their alleged part in sectarian violence in Poso, 75 miles from Palu, which had happened in 2000.
The executions of the Christians, when no Muslim involved in the violence received more than a 15 year jail sentence, has led to increased sectarian violence. On October 9 we wrote that Christians were arrested after two Muslims were killed near Poso, following the executions.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at October 16, 2006 5:56 AM
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