Durian. A Joint security team has been hunting for a group of militants that has killed four Christians and one is badly injured, members of Salvation Army congregation in Sigi regency in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi on Nov.27 and burned six houses and church building at the crime site which is located in remote rural area of Lemban Tongoa village.
A National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Awi Setiyono said in Jakarta on Nov.28 that witnesses recognized at least three of perpetrators from Police’s wanted list of members of Eastern Indonesia Mujahedeen (MIT) group, a terrorist group that led by Ali Ahmad a.k.a. Ali Kalora.
Two victims were beheaded, one has died and another one is badly injured. The church building was empty when the attack taken place. Lemban Tongoa village is about 90 kilometer from Central Sulawesi’s capital of Palu.
The Salvation Army headquarters issued a statement on Nov.28 confirmed the killing of its congregation members and called all churches, religious associations and society members to ‘’support each other vigilantly in these days, enhancing security through strong communication networks across the villages of the area’’ as stated by Indonesia’s representatives earlier in the day.
‘’We find the news from Lemban Tongoa greatly disturbing. Our hearts go out to our people who have been victims of evil, and to the families of those whose faith have caused such har,’’ General Brian Peddle, international leader of The Salvation Army said in the statement.
On Sunday, all salvationists were called to conduct a-three-minutes-silent prayer regarding the savage attacks.
International Christian Concern (ICC) condemned the attack and called the killing as a “terrorist” act. ICC’s Regional Manager for South East Asia, Gina Goh said ICC mourns the death of the Indonesians who were brutally murdered by the alleged terrorist.
“We urge the Indonesian government to take necessary measures to hold the perpetrators and put them to justice. Such useless act cannot be tolerated in the country that boasts “Pancasila,”the state ideology which promotes religios harmony and tolerance,” Gina Goh, ICC’s regional manager for Southeast Asia said in a statement on Nov.27.
Indonesia’s religious organizations condemned the inhuman attacks in separate statements.
No Religious War
‘’The government [of Indonesia] regrets and strongly condemns the terror, violence and vile acts that conducted by Eastern Indonesia Mujahedeen (MIT) group, in this case the group of Ali Kalora – it’s not a religious, but criminal action – towards a family in Palolo district, Sigi regency in Central Sulawesi,’’ Chief Security Minister of Indonesia Mahfud M.D. said in Jakarta on Nov.30 after a security meeting related to the case.
He said the central government has ordered security task force Tinombala, led by the National Police, to hunt and siege the perpetrators and bring them before the law as well as to ensure security of the people in the area.
‘’The government urges all people especially in Sigi regency in Central Sulawesi to not be provoked by certain parties. The event was not a tribal nor religious war, it was conducted by a criminal group namely Eastern Indonesia Mujahedeen led by Ali Kalora that can say as a religious representative,’’ Mahfud stated.
Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said additional soldiers will deploy to Poso from Jakarta on Dec.1 to work together with Police and existing personnel on the ground.
At least 100 security personnel have been hunting the perpetrators since Nov.27.
