Urgent Alert for Sulawesi Christians
IFC, Australia
Ian Freestone
Tuesday August 13th, 2002
Praying people, political leaders and human rights activists are being called upon to
respond urgently to the cry of the Christian Church in Central Sulawesi. In scenes
reminiscent of November and December 2001, whole villages are being burnt to the
ground, churches are being destroyed and Christians are being shot and hacked to
death. Desperate calls for assistance are being received via CB radios to neighbouring
villages who are then forwarding on the cries to our contacts in North Sulawesi.
On Monday evening (Aug 12) the villages of Sepe and Silanca were attacked and
burnt to the ground. Local village men sought in vain to ward off the well equipped
jihad attackers, whilst women and children fled into the night. Four are confirmed dead
but that toll could rise much higher.
Notably absent in this pandemonium are the security forces who were mysteriously
recalled to Poso (12 kms away) shortly before the attacks! Then hours after the jihad
had destroyed the villages the security reappeared to 'restore order'.
One can appreciate the sentiment of local community leaders who ask in response to
these recent attacks:
"Is there a conspiracy between the Laskar Jihad and part of these defence forces?
Who knows! Indeed there is nothing we can do. Apparently we have no right to live in
our Homeland, the Republic of Indonesia."
Mona Saroinsong from the Sulawesi Church Crisis Centre pleads, "PLEASE KEEP
PRAYING AND DO SOMETHING TO SAVE our sisters and brothers in Christ and
those who are innocent but oppressed before it's too late!!"
The serious threat to the 'christian heartbeat' of the region, the village of Tentena, with
a population of around 60 000 (many of them refugees from other regions), is now
again very real. Travel is being heavily restricted as public transport buses have been
attacked in recent weeks and christians travelling in cars risk being ambushed
travelling between villages.
Central Sulawesi faced this same crisis late last year, when, except for the 11th hour
intervention of the Indonesian Government and military forces, Tentena would have
suffered the same fate as many smaller neighbouring villages.
Sepe and Silanca are only 50 kms from Tentena and the sight of smoke and fire rising
from this area is causing many to fear the worst. Your prayers and intervention could
make the difference once again! We need both a short term miracle and a long term
guarantee of security. How could the Malino Peace Agreement ever have worked if
Laskar Jihad could continue to operate unopposed and unchecked by local
authorities? A solution is needed that MUST INVOLVE the Laskar Jihad being
removed from the area. Other forces that provoke and manipulate violence should also
be brought to justice.
Your support in prayer and action is not just appreciated, its NECESSARY.
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