Three Muslim extremists have been sentenced to prison for their roles in the ambush of four Indonesian schoolgirls, three of whom were decapitated – with their heads wrapped in plastic and delivered to nearby villages.. While the sentences of 14-19 years may seem light considering the horrific crime, the minister at large for Open Doors USA, a Christian ministry that has worked in the area of Indonesia where the attack happened, said it not only is a relatively severe penalty, it also is raising fears of violence as the Christmas season approaches.
The report of the sentences comes from Compass Direct News, which confirmed Rahman Kalahe was given 19 years, Agus Nur Huhammad was given 14 years and Yudi Heryanto 10 years after being found guilty of beheading Theresia Morangke and Yarni Samubue, 15, and Alfita Poliwo, 17, in an Oct. 29, 2005, attack.
A fourth girl attacked, Noviana Malewa, then 15, was seriously hurt but survived the machete attack.
As WND reported earlier, three militant Islamists earlier were given prison sentences of 14 and 20 years for their part in the girls' deaths.
Islamist Hasanuddin, the son-in-law of Islamist militant leader Adnan Arsal, reportedly has trained in the Philippines with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. He said the attack on the schoolgirls was in revenge for Christians killing Muslims during the early stages of the sectarian conflict in Central Sulawesi.
Hasanuddin was given 20 years in prison for masterminding the attack and Lilik Purnomo and Irwanto Irano each got 14 years as accomplices.
Paul Estabrooks, of Open Doors USA told WND the sentences may appear light from a Western perspective. But he said in a culture dominated by Islam, it is a serious statement, and also will bring "some closure" for Christians in the region.
"The interesting thing is the timing," he said. "The last few Christmases have been pretty violent (in the region). … There is some concern this would inflame the sectarian violence of the area again."
He said his organization was publicizing a prayer request for the Christians in the region during this season. And he noted that the girl who survived the attack that killed her three friends already has made public statements of her forgiveness for her attackers.
As WND reported, Malewa and three of her friends were walking on a school path that morning when they were assaulted by radical Islamic jihadists wielding machetes.
Malewa fought back as she was struck, then fell to the ground and rolled down into a ravine. Above, she heard her friends screaming.
The militants put the heads of the three girls in plastic bags and dumped them in nearby villages with notes stating, "We still need another 100 heads. Blood for blood, a life for life and a head for a head."
Reports in the Jakarta Post said the Islamic suspects confessed to the fatal attack. Authorities reported the suspects have ties to Noordin Top, considered a key leader of the al-Qaida-linked group Jamaah Islamiyah.
In contrast to the sentences for the beheading of the three girls, in September 2006 Indonesia executed by firing squad three Catholics – Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwu and Dominggus da Silva – whose responsibility for violence in Poso rioting in 2000 was much less clear, Compass Direct reported. The death sentences were carried out in spite of an outpouring of international protest over trial irregularities.
Conflict between Muslim and Christian communities in Central Sulawesi erupted in 2000 and continued until a peace agreement was signed in December 2001. Sporadic violence has continued since then, with the majority of victims being Christians, Compass Direct said.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment