Masariku Network, 04 December 2003
Poso Christians Daily Cross - Being Shot at!
Joko Harmono, Dec 3 2003
"When Jesus said to take up the cross and follow Him, we didn't expect it to be this
dangerous," said a Christian man from Poso who preferred not to be identified. That
statement probably expresses the feeling of many in the Poso Christian community.
Who would expect that to take up the cross would mean loving those at the very
moment they are trying to kill us? But isn't this what Jesus did?
The Christians of Poso are being tried daily with the reality of this challenge. Prayer
groups have been set up throughout the District and they pray for peace. They pray
that the Government will take serious its role as the protector of its citizens. They
pray that they will not be forgotten by the Body of Christ.
Too many times the Christian community has been promised peace, law and order
only to have it violently taken away. After hearing the latest set of promises, they ask
again, "Will be any different this time?"
The Poso Chief of Police, AKBP Abdi Dharma, stated yesterday that the perpetrators
of this latest round of mysterious shootings have been identified by the police.
However, when questioned by the various media outlets he refused to name who they
are.
"The important thing is that we have identified them and they are an armed group who
have been creating confusion. Who they are, well it's still under investigation," said
Abdi. "Without the assistance of the community though, it will be difficult to catch
them," he added.
To make things even more confusing the Police Chief said, "We ask for the
understanding of the community in this matter. If the results of our investigation
reveals that these suspects are innocent, then according to the law we will have to let
them go." Well, does he really know who the terrorists are or doesn't he? Honestly,
I'm confused.
One Poso Pesisir resident said that it seemed as though these terrorists have a hit
list. They come, they shoot and then they disappear.
That's exactly what happened in the village of Tiwaa, Poso Pesisir, Monday night
(Dec.1), the village next to Kilo Trans, which was attacked a day earlier. Shots were
fired at the Village Chief and his nephew and they narrowly escaped. A Christian man
called Pian was badly wounded and is in hospital in a critical condition. In the
darkness of the night more shots were fired bringing terror to the whole of the
community. People in neighboring villages ask, "Will we be next?" This is the cross
being born by these Christians facing bullets, terror and death every day.
Not to be outdone by the local Police Chief, Social Welfare Minister Mr. Yusuf Kalla,
said that this recent rise in terrorism "is the action of a third party or outsiders." But
still we ask, "Who are they?"
Some positive developments seem to be happening. Perhaps all the bad publicity is
finally forcing the Central Government to take some serious action. They have
admitted that the local government has not been doing enough to solve the problem. I
wonder why? So the Government is sending a special team to investigate how the
local government has been conducting itself and in particular its role in the Poso
conflict. Mona Saroinsong of the Sulawesi Crisis Center said quite jubilantly, "Thank
God, finally they admit it!!"
Let's continue to pray that the whole community of Poso might soon live again in
peace, safety and security.
Received from malukuwashdc via MASARIKU NETWORK
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