You are right. The President took prudent and farsighted actions in this event. The Osamites will nonetheless shriek at the top of their lungs against us but we will show them what we are made of. These are nothing but low lifers and worse then worms for bastardizing Islam. They attacked us.... killed our innocents.... we shall not show mercy to them and their likes.
I am glad of the steps our President is taking in this situation and think it will make a difference. I just hope that our government uses our charitable drive in more ways then one. We have shown our anger up to now... they are now seeing a different side of the ones (all the western countries) they want to see perish.
excuse me??
http://www.persecution.org/Countries/indonesia.html Extremist Groups:
Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) - A militant Islamist group active in several Southeast Asian countries that is seeking to establish a Muslim fundamentalist state in the region. Jemaah Islamiyah ("Islamic Group" in Indonesian) is alleged to have attacked or plotted against U.S. and Western targets in Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. The group is believed to have ties to Al-Qaeda and has been linked to a series of church bombings that took place on Christmas Eve 2000 as well as the bombing of a Bali nightclub in October 2002.
Laskar Jihad (Holy War Army) -- a self-styled army of Islamic "warriors" who are waging a "holy war" against Christians. The army is mostly composed of veterans from Bosnia and Afghanistan along with students from local Muslim schools. The group officially disbanded in October 2002, but there is fear that it may have only gone underground.
Muslim Ahlus-Sunnah Wal Jama’ah Forum – a paramilitary group which claims its role is to help fellow Muslims, not attack Christians. The group has, in fact, been involved in violent acts but claims they were in self-defense.
Indonesian Committee for Worldwide Islamic Solidarity (KISDI)
Recent Actions:
July 12, 2003 - Petrian Malenge, a Christian police sergeant, was shot while riding his motorcycle in Lembomawo village, Central Sulawesi. A neighbor riding with him escaped major injury when she fell from the bike. Malenge is in critical condition at Poso Public hospital. He was known as a supporter of the Christian community in Central Sulawesi and had helped Rev. Rinaldy Damanik evacuate IDPs during the summer of 2002.
July 11, 2003 - Nine members of the Jemaah Islamiyah were arrested in Central Java. Over 20,000 rounds of ammunition, 11 rocket launchers and 2 M-16s were among the weapons confiscated during the capture of the terrorists. One of the men, Pranata Yuda, admitted the group's past involvement in the Central Sulawesi conflict.
July 10, 2003 - At 10:30pm a Christian-owned and operated restaurant in Kawua village was bombed. The owners, Mr. Josep Tosabu and Mrs. Tini Alimin, as well as their young son, were injured. Two other people, a Muslim man named Trisno and Mr. Melky, a Christian, both lost their right foot and sustained other serious injuries in the attack. All five victims have been hospitalized at Poso Public hospital.
July 10, 2003 - Julis Ledo Pamini, a Torajan Christian man was shot to death on his plantation located between Sa'atu and Pinedapa villages in Central Sulawesi.
June 16, 2003 - A court in Palu sentenced Rev. Damanik to three years imprisonment despite police procedural errors and other inconsistencies in his case. Damanik plans to appeal to the Central Sulawesi High Court. Further information on the case and ways to help Damanik can be found at the following link:
http://www.persecution.org/Damanik.htm.
June 2, 2003 - At 3am, two Christian men and five Christian houses were shot at by a group of armed men. Mr. Yosep Burungudju was killed and Darman Posumah was seriously injured. The attack occurred in Kapompa village, a primarily Christian village which had been abandoned by the Christians during the heat of the ongoing conflict in Central Sulawesi. Several men, including Mr. Burungudju and Mr. Posumah, had just recently returned to the area to prepare homes for their families.
May 22, 2003 - Rev. Rinaldy Damanik's imprisonment was extended until June 23, when the final verdict in his trial is expected to be handed down. It appears abundantly clear to everyone involved in the case that the charges against Damanik are totally trumped up. However, it is believed that a complete acquittal will be impossible. (Jubilee Campaign)
May 2003 - Churches in Bekasi, west Java have reported being threatened and intimidated by Muslim radicals. Christians in Bekasi are being persecuted because of recent legislation that requires Christian groups to have at least 40 "heads of families" before applying to build a church. Groups formerly meeting in homes or rented public places have been forced to stop. (Barnabas Fund/ANS)
April 14, 2003 - Rev. Rinaldy Damanik has been released from the hospital and was able to attend the most recent hearing of his trial. The key witness in the case gave testimony at this hearing. However, his testimony was not under oath because of certain legal regulations. His testimony also disagreed in significant ways from other witnesses. The prosecution has yet to produce one credible witness in the case against Damanik.
April 14, 2003 - Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, head of the militant Jemaah Islamiyah, was formally charged with treason. He is also accused of masterminding the bombing of over a dozen churches on Christmas Eve 2000. Nineteen Christians were killed in the bombings. (Barnabas Fund/ANS)
April 4, 2003 - TNI (Indonesian military) forces were sent to Wamena to investigate a raid on a military post in which three people were killed. Though members of the TNI themselves were believed to be responsible for the incident, troops raided and destroyed homes and churches around Wamena, reportedly burning Bibles in contempt of the Christian faith. Two Baptist pastors, Mr. Kutis Tabuli and his brother, Mr. Engellek Tabuli, were murdered as well as at least 13 others. Villagers reported being tortured
March 17, 2003 - The prosecution began the witness selection process in the case of Rev. Rinaldy Damanik while Damanik remains hospitalized. One of the witnesses offered testimony that contradicted his earlier reports to police. When questioned about the apparent contradictions he replied that he couldn't remember, leading the judge to inquire whether he had actually forgotten what took place or simply couldn't remember his script. The judge's comment offers some hope for true justice to be carried out in Damanik's case. (Jubilee Campaign)
February 2003 - Human rights workers in Papua (Irian Jaya) reported that Laskar Jihad warriors continue operations in Papua where they are being trained by the Indonesian military. Recent legislation signed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri could endanger the predominantly Christian population of Papua by dividing the area into three regions, two of which could be dominated by Muslims migrating from other parts of the country. It is believed that the military wants to stir up trouble in Papua in order to maintain their political role, which is scheduled to end in 2004. (WEA)
February 24, 2003 - Rev. Rinaldy Damanik was forced to attend a hearing of his case despite feeling extremely ill. His lawyers walked out of the courtroom in protest when the judge refused to listen to their objections. Damanik was then taken to the Salvation Army hospital in Palu. He was later moved to the UNDATA hospital for treatment of hepatitis B and other liver ailments. The case will not continue until Damanik is healthy enough to attend hearings.
February 18, 2003 - Rev. Rinaldy Damanik refused to attend a hearing of his case on the grounds that the charges against him had been changed. The new charges were announced in a letter from the Minister of Law and Human Rights. Damanik is suing the Minister and has registered a complaint with the High Court on State Affairs in Jakarta.
February 2003 - Reports indicate that Laskar Jihad are still present in Ambon despite being ordered to leave. In addition, at least 100 Laskar Mujahidin have arrived from Surabay and Makassar in recent weeks (Maluku Watch Network).
February 10, 2003 - Rev. Rinaldy Damanik was expected to be tried in Palu after the hearing was postponed from February 3. However, after the charges against Damanik were changed from carrying weapons to being a provocateur of violence, his lawyers advised him not to appear in court. Damanik's lawyers continue to push for a change of venue, from Palu to Jakarta.
January 30, 2003 - Jafar Umar Thalib, head of the militant Laskar Jihad group, was acquitted of charges of instigating violence against Christians by the District Court of East Jakarta. The public prosecutor had only sought a sentence of one year imprisonment and it is not certain whether he will appeal. The charges against Thalib stem from a provocative speech made outside of the Al-Fatah mosque on April 26 in which he called on Muslims to take up arms against Christians. Two days later armed attackers brutally murdered a dozen Christians in the village of Soya. (CCDA)
Christians in Indonesia Flee Their Homes as Attacks Spread
Police Reinforcements Fail to Curtail Panic in Sulawesi
Special to Compass Direct
LONDON, October 21 (Compass) - Villagers in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, are
once again fleeing for their lives. They are reacting to recent attacks on four
villages in the Poso district by bands of masked raiders armed with automatic
weapons. Even the deployment of extra armed forces to secure the area has had
little effect upon the worried inhabitants.
"People are too scared to remain in their isolated villages," said Mona
Saroinsong, coordinator of the Crisis Center of the Protestant Church in North
Sulawesi. "They have been walking through the jungle to the coast or making for
Tentena, the nearest Christian town. When I questioned them, they said they did
not trust the authorities to protect them."
Following the October 11 attack on the village of Old Beteleme, (see Compass
Direct news flash, October 14) a further assault was launched in the early
hours of Sunday morning, October 12, on three villages closer to the town of
Poso.
http://www.domini.org/openbook/ind20031021.htm