Christian schoolgirls on Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, which raised fears of renewed clashes between the Muslim and Christian communities.
Theresia Morangke, 15, Alfita Poliwo, 17, and Yarni Sambue, 15, were beheaded early in the morning of October 29, 2005 as they walked to a Christian school in a district of the Sulawesi town of Poso, investigators said. A fourth girl, Noviana Malewa, 15, received serious injuries to her face and neck but survived the attack.
All seven suspects confessed under questioning that they planned and carried out the beheadings and the life threatening attack against the fourth girl, Police Chief Lt. Col. Rudi Sufahriadi told reporters.
INTENSIVE INVESTIGATION
Two of the men, identified as Hasanudin alias Iwan and Taufik alias Opik, were captured on May 8 in Palu, the capital of the islands’ Central Sulawesi province, and the tense Sulawesi town of Poso, following seven months of intensive investigations, police said.
Several days later police arrested five other men in the Sulawesi city of Tolitoli, who were identified as Jendra also known as Rahmat or Asrudin, Irwanto Irano alias Iwan, Lili Purwanto alias Haris, Nano Maryono and Abdul Muis.
Police denied earlier published statements that two of the five men arrested in Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi, were also involved in the 2004 murder of Rev. Susianti Tinulele, saying an investigation had found no evidence leading to that conclusion.
SHOT DEAD
Susianti Tinulele was shot in the head while preaching during a Sunday night service at the Effata Presbyterian Church in the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu. the pastor reportedly fell straight to the church floor after a bullet rammed through her skull.
Police said however that at least three of the men were also directly involved in the 2004 murder of a woman, Helmi Tobiling, the wife of a soldier in Poso, was murdered on July 17, Indonesian media said.
Two of the seven suspects currently in detention also claimed to have ties to Noordin Top, regarded as a key leader of the al-Qaida-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah, local media quoted Central Sulawesi police chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno as saying.
MILITANTS DETAINED
Indonesia has arrested scores of militants belonging to the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group in recent years. Jemaah Islamiyah has been blamed for a series of suicide bombings in Indonesia in recent years, including two separate strikes on the tourist island of Bali.
Poso, a coastal town, some 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) northeast of Jakarta, was the
scene of clashes between Muslims and Christians in 1999-2002 that claimed at least over 1,000 lives. according to conservative estimates. Church groups believe thousands have been killed in recent years.
Sporadic bombings and attacks, mostly targeting the Christian community, have continued and police suspect Jemaah Islamiyah involvement, news reports said.
The Indonesian government has come under pressure to better protect the Christian minority in what is the world’s largest Muslim nation.
ISLAMIC LAW
In a move that has raised eyebrows however, news emerged this week that the Indonesian parliament is discussing a proposal to impose in the tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh Islamic law, also known as Shariah, on all non-Muslims, the military and police. It comes at a time when house churches and other groups in several parts of Indonesia report raids and other incidents of persecution.
Sharia took effect last year in Aceh, a predominantly Muslim region on the northernmost tip of Sumatra Island. It banned drinking, gambling, adultery and other behavior deemed immoral under Islam. But it had only applied to Muslims.
The latest bill, submitted to the national parliament for debate, is expected to be adopted by the 550-seat house by the summer after facing initial resistance, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
Aceh was the single worst-hit Asian coastline in the December 26, 2004, tsunami which claimed the lives of some 130,000 people in the region. (With BosNewsLife Research, BosNewsLife News Center and reports from Indonesia).
