LEADER

FLASH NEWS from COMPASS DIRECT Global News from the Frontlines

Summary: LONDON, September 22 (Compass) — Christians in Indonesia have issued an urgent call for prayer for the release of Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, whose prison detention in Palu, Central Sulawesi, should have ended on September 15, according to Indonesian law. That day, Damanik’s extended detention order expired, but Palu prison authorities refused a release request from his lawyers until clearance comes from a higher authority. The High Court of Central Sulawesi has already extended Damanik’s imprisonment five times, but can no longer do so, due to a pending appeal before the nation’s Supreme Court. To date, the Supreme Court has issued no extension order of its own; therefore, Damanik’s imprisonment is now illegal. Last June, the Central Sulawesi court sentenced the prominent Christian leader to three years in prison for allegedly transporting illegal arms. Sources in Indonesia say his imprisonment is part of the Indonesian government’s attempt to blame the Christian community for inter-religious violence in the Poso region.

********** Fully Story: INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES ILLEGALLY DETAIN CHRISTIAN LEADER Damanik’s Appeal of a Three-Year Prison Sentence is Pending Before the Supreme Court by Geoff Stamp

LONDON, September 22 (Compass) — Christians in Indonesia have issued an urgent call for prayer for the release of the Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, whose prison detention in Palu, Central Sulawesi, should have come to an end on September 15, according to Indonesian law.

Lawyers representing the Christian leader, who has earned an international reputation for aiding refugees from both sides of the Central Sulawesi conflict, went to Palu prison where Damanik is detained on the evening of September 15, the day Damanik’s extended detention order expired. The lawyers asked for Damanik’s immediate release, but the prison authorities refused the request without clearance from a higher authority.

Damanik’s imprisonment is now illegal.

Damanik is appealing a three-year prison sentence for allegedly transporting illegal arms. Sources in Indonesia say his trial and imprisonment are part of the Indonesian government’s attempt to blame the minority Christian community for the violence in Poso. Conflict between Muslims and Christians there has caused hundreds of deaths and injuries, and created tens of thousands of homeless people since December 1999.

The Supreme Court, where Daminik’s appeal currently lies, must issue an extension order for his detention. Otherwise, under Indonesian law, prison authorities are forced to release him.

Damanik’s imprisonment has already been extended five times by the High Court of Central Sulawesi. However, due to his pending appeal, the Central Sulawesi court is no longer entitled to extend his prison term. To date, the Supreme Court has issued no extension order of its own.

Jubilee Campaign, an international, non-government advocacy organization, believes the hesitancy to release Damanik is due to his criticism of the Indonesian government.

Damanik has been openly critical of the mismanagement and embezzlement of refugee funds and of the government and military’s apparent complicity in the conflict, said a recent statement by Jubilee Campaign.

“From the start, Damanik’s case has been rife with legal and procedural violations. Sentenced to three years on a dubious weapons charge, advocates have accused the local police and others of framing Damanik in an attempt to scapegoat him and the minority Christian community by imputation as the perpetrators of the violent religious conflict,” the statement added.

Since September 15, Damanik’s lawyers have visited the prison every day and have complied with every condition demanded by the prison authorities and the local ministry of justice. Mr. Gusman, the head of Central Sulawesi’s Justice Department, told Damanik’s lawyers on September 17 that if they persisted in their demands on his behalf, they themselves could face arrest.

Unconfirmed rumors have circulated that the local Christian population was preparing to confront the police and authorities over Damanik’s illegal detention.

Predictably, Rev. Damanik’s reaction to the rumors has been conciliatory.

“If my freedom means more violence, then I would rather remain in jail for the present time,” Damanik said from prison. “I only want to act within the law and avoid further conflict.”

He has instructed his lawyers to continue his advocacy by peaceful means, presenting a letter every day to the prison authorities requesting his release.

Meanwhile, the violence in the Poso region has not ceased, despite recent claims to that effect from the Ministry of Social Welfare.

On September 12, a day marking Christian harvest celebrations, a bomb was detonated in Kasiguncu village. The explosion occurred at night in front of the village chief’s office and resulted in five people being hospitalized.

END

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