Christians choose peace after Easter attacks
Poso (AsiaNews) Christians in the volatile region of Tentena in Poso, Central Sulawesi, have decided not to retaliate after the latest violent attack on believers during a Holy Saturday service at Tabernacle Church. Residents held a peaceful demonstration instead later Saturday evening, appealing to security forces to step-up protective measures in order to prevent further episodes of the violence which has troubled the locality in recent weeks.
Despite the attack, thousands of Christians in Poso flocked to churches in the lakeside town for Easter Sunday Mass, amidst the presence of 200 Mobile Brigade Police and heightened security.
Police Chief Abdi Darma Sitepu stated his relief that Christians in the area have not staged a retaliation attack, indicating that it would have pleased the gunmen to have achieved such a response.
At 7:15 pm, April 10th, three masked men in Ninja-like costumes arrived on motorcycle and stormed the Protestant congregation, opening fire on hundreds of Christians who were celebrating Easter. Seven people were injured, including a four-year old girl who was shot in the right leg. The assailants escaped to a nearby forest.
Three previous shootings in the last month have claimed the lives of three Christians and injured another. The deaths of Rosia Pilonga, a 41-year old dean of Law at the Siontuwunu Maroso University and Jhon Christian Tanalida, who were shot dead by unknown gunmen earlier last month, were followed by the shooting death of a local clergyman, Reverend Freddy Wuisan, in his own home late one evening.
These anonymous attacks have targeted the Christian population in the Poso region even after the 2001 Peace accord was established by the government to end two years of fighting which killed some 2000 people. In the worst bloodshed last October, gunmen killed 10 people in attacks on mainly Christian villages.
Christians so far have not retaliated to any of the attacks with violence. (M.H.)
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14/10/2004
