The Jakarta Post, November 17, 2006
Suspect admits beheading schoolgirls
Ary Hermawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A Muslim militant charged with beheading three Christian schoolgirls in Poso, Central
Sulawesi, admitted Tuesday to his involvement in the 2005 attack and said he was
deeply sorry.
"I apologize," Hasanuddin, 34, told the Central Jakarta District Court.
The suspect, the son-in-law of Poso Muslim leader Adnan Arsal, admitted his actions
were wrong.
Prosecutors have accused Hasanuddin, alias Hasan, of masterminding the attack to
avenge the killing of Muslims during the religious violence in Central Sulawesi.
He is charged under the anti-terror law and could be sentenced to death if found
guilty.
Hasan, however, denied he masterminded the attack, saying the idea came from an
Islamic teacher named Sanusi, who is still on the run.
The attack was caused by the chaotic and desperate situation in Poso, said Hasan.
"It was to get revenge for Muslims who were brutally slain by Christians," he added.
He said he believed students in the Walisongo Islamic boarding school in Poso were
beheaded by Christians, but that police did not arrest any suspects in the case.
"There were many other similar cases, but no action has been taken by authorities to
solve them," he said.
The beheading of the three Christian girls was intended to be seen as "shock therapy,
a warning and retaliation", Hasan said.
Prosecutors say they have evidence Hasan plotted the attack with two accomplices
during a meeting last year at the Gebang Rejo library in Poso.
At the meeting, Hasan allegedly told his accomplices he had attacked security posts
and killed soldiers as an "Idul Fitri gift" to Muslims when he trained with the Moro
Islamic Liberation Front in the Philippines.
Hasan also allegedly told them: "We should find Kongkoli (Christians) as an Idul Fitri
gift (in 2005). Go look around (to find the targets)."
Two other suspects currently being tried in the same case are Lilik Purnomo and
Irwanto Irano, while six other suspects are still at large.
The three girls were slain on their way to school on an isolated jungle track near
Poso. Another girl was also slashed in the cheek but managed to escape.
The same court began the trial of Lilik and Irwanto on Wednesday. The two suspects
are also charged with violating the anti-terrorism law and face a possible death
sentence if convicted.
Lilik allegedly acted as field coordinator in the attack, while Irwanto led the ambush on
the girls.
The trial has been adjourned until Nov. 22 to hear defense pleas from the suspects.
The beheadings sparked an angry reaction in Indonesia and worldwide. President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono condemned the incident, while Pope Benedict XVI
deplored what he described as "a barbaric murder".
Poso and its surrounding areas have been the scene of sporadic unrest since violence
between Muslims and Christians killed some 1,000 people in 2000 and 2001.
Prosecutors have said the trials are being held in Jakarta rather than Central Sulawesi
for "security considerations".
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