Jubilee Campaign USA, February 14, 2003
Prayer Request for Rev. Damanik
Dear Friends,
Rev. Rinaldy Damanik's Trial Continues, As New Charges are Lodged During the
Hearing
On Feb 10, 2003, the Criminal Court in the Capitol City of Palu, Central Sulawesi
Province continued the trial considering the possession of weapons charges against
Rev. Rinaldy Damanik during the weeks when six Christian villages in his area were
attacked by Laskar Jihad militants. However, in a surprise development, the Minister
of Justice and Human Rights, Prof. Yusril Mahendra, leveled the new charge-that
Damanik was a provocateur in the Poso, Central Sulawesi sectarian violence.
Rev. Damanik's defense is refusing to follow the court's agenda in the trial. His
defense is presenting two rebuttal statements, including a 34-page statement from
Rev. Damanik himself. Rev. Damanik is demanding the removal of the new charge and
his declared that he will boycott the trial if the charge is not dropped.
The defense team also brought up a technical issue, namely that the trial's venue in
Palu violates procedure. His defense asserts that because he was arrested for crimes
which allegedly took place in Poso, under Poso District, the court in Palu is without
jurisdiction. His defense argues that the ongoing trial should not be considered valid.
Many members of the international community are concerned about the lack of due
process in the manner in which the case has been handled. The regional police in
Palu issued the first warrant of arrest against Damanik. However, after responding to
an invitation by the Indonesian National Police in Jakarta to appear for questioning as
a witness in the violence targeting only Christian villages (not one attack occurred
against any Muslim person or property), Jakarta police arrested Damanik on the
frivolous charge of weapons possession.
Meanwhile, Jubilee Campaign has uncovered and has substantiation that the
Indonesian police have been systematically hunting the close friends of Damanik. In
this travesty of justice and act of barbarism, the Indonesian community is twice
victimized. First, the villages were attacked and torched to the ground in August 2002.
Second, those who alerted the world to these attacks are being systematically hunted
by Indonesian police, thereby quashing the ability of good- will Indonesian citizens to
obtain justice.
We ask your continual fervent prayer on behalf of Rev. Damanik who stands for justice
and those friends now forced to flee the injustice.
Sincerely,
Ann Buwalda and Kie-eng Go
Jubilee Campaign USA
email: jubilee@jubileecampaign.org
voice: 703-503-0791
web: http://www.jubileecampaign.org
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