Mother Killed in Machete Attack

24 March 2004

A mother was killed and five other villagers injured when unidentified men entered the predominantly Christian village of Maranatha in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia and began slashing the people with machetes. According to an eyewitness, Noci, a forty-year-old mother of two died while attempting to crawl toward her screaming baby after she suffered machete wounds to her head, neck and back. Four men on motorcycles raced through the town, slashing villagers. The five wounded victims were identified as Pianus, 18, Efrain, 30, Kanus, 30, Kalfin, 25, and Listin, 17

It is unknown if this attack is connected to an incident in January when another villager in Maranatha was killed and others wounded in sectarian violence in the area. Authorities are also looking into possible links to the sentencing of five Muslim militants on March 15. The five were members of the militant Islamic Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). JI has connections with al-Qaeda and has been linked to a nightclub bombing in Bali as well as several attacks on Christians in Central Sulawesi.

Pray that more violence will not erupt in this volatile area of Indonesia. Pray that Christians will respond with peace, demonstrating the attitude of Christ Jesus.

For more information on the problems facing Christians in Indonesia, click here.

Indonesia

Country Information
Population
279,476,346 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Javanese (40.1), Sundanese (15.5), Malay (3.7), Balak (3.6), Madurese (3), Betawi (2.9), Minangkabau (2.7), Buginese (2.7), Bantenese (2), Other (23.8)

Religion (%)
Muslim (87.2), Christian (9.9), Hindu (1.7), Other (0.9), Unspecified (0.4)

Leader
President Joko Widodo (2014)

Government type
Presidential republic

Legal system
Civil law system based on the Roman-Dutch model and influenced by customary law

Sources: CIA World Factbook.
Pray for Indonesia
Pray for the continued growth of the church in Indonesia, despite the intense opposition and persecution that has taken place. May the destructive plans of the enemy to eradicate Christianity be frustrated and nullified.

Pray that whatever is intended for evil, God will turn around for good – causing such hatred and violence to not only discredit extremism, but to also compel many to seek salvation in Christ... including the perpetrators of persecution.

Indonesia News

Children Injured in Mob Violence

Children in Indonesia.
Photo: ILO / Yodhi Prasetyo (cc)

On July 27th, a violent incident occurred in Padang City, Indonesia, when several men attacked a prayer house, which was established to provide religious education to Christian children. Armed with sticks, the assailants ordered the believers to disperse, and then they proceeded to smash the building's windows. During the attack, two children (ages eight and eleven) sustained injuries after being struck by objects that had been thrown amid the violence.

Read more...
Hundreds of Protestors Oppose Church Construction

Bulukumba Regency
Photo: Wikimedia / Midori (cc)

As the church in Indonesia continues to grow, opposition to the construction of various worship facilities remains a major challenge. One Catholic church in the Bulukumba Regency of South Sulawesi has been waiting for 45 years to receive a building permit. Although the congregation was initially granted permission in 1980, their permit was revoked following public protests. Since then, members of the church have attempted to secure approval for multiple locations, but each application has been met with rejection.

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Young Boy Dies Following Tragic Bullying Incident

An eight-year-old boy, referred to as "KB" in Indonesia's local news reports, tragically died following a severe beating he received from a group of older male students at a school in Pangkalan Kasai, a village located within the province of Riau. According to various sources, the incident occurred because the boy was a Christian and belonged to a different ethnic group.

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Christian Graves Vandalized

Photo: PxHere

In what appears to be a targeted act against the Christian community, at least ten graves were recently vandalized in cemeteries throughout the Yogyakarta region of Java, Indonesia. Each of the graves bore a cross, symbolizing the Christian faith of the individuals interred there. The damages occurred in three different cemeteries between May 16th and 19th.

Read more...