Life grows less precarious for Christians in Indonesia in exact proportion to how much more observant in its Islam that nation becomes.
“Calls for knife attacks preceded Sunday’s sword rampage in Yogyakarta church: Counter-terror official,” by Amy Chew, Channel News Asia, February 12, 2018:
KUALA LUMPUR: Radical groups were calling for knife attacks in Indonesia just a week before a sword-wielding man stabbed a Catholic priest and three others during mass in a church in Yogyakarta on Sunday (Feb 12), a counter-terrorism source told Channel NewsAsia.
The attacker also slashed the statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary during the violence at the Santa Lidwina church in Yogyakarta, Central Java.
Counter-terrorism officials and the police are now investigating whether the attacker, Suliyono, 23, was inspired by radicals to carry out the attacks as a lonewolf or whether he is part of a terror group.
“From several radical groups we were monitoring, it was found that they (radicals) were broadcasting calls to mujahidins to use knives to carry out attacks just a week ago,” a counter-terrorism official told Channel NewsAsia.
The official did not give details on what platforms the broadcasts were delivered.
Police are also investigating whether the suspect is linked to terror groups from Solo, Central Java, which had earlier planned to carry out attacks during Christmas and New Year’s Day but later postponed them.
Counter-terrorism sources are now predicting an increase in acts of terror in Yogyakarta as there have been a rising number of activities by radical groups in the province.
“In the past few months, there has been several incidents of persecution and rejection of church activities by the Islamic Jihad Front (FJI), among others, in Bantul and Mount Kidul,” the official told Channel NewsAsia. Bantul and Mount Kidul are regencies in Yogyakarta province.
FJI is a hardline group that was launched in 2011 and headquartered in Bantul. The group is implicated in acts of violence against minorities, including Christians and Shias.
On Jan 28, FJI disrupted and shut down a charity event organised by the St Paulus Pringgolayan Catholic church in Bantul….
AleX says
In my understanding of the meaning in the first sentence, ‘life grows •more• precarious for Christians’.
And yes! Jihad spreads its tentacles in more daring viciousness and proves to be an enemy to civilisation, regardless of the host culture.
Lydia Church says
Yes, more precarious (dangerous).
I know that’s what you meant to say Robert.
( ;
J D S says
Yes Alex… Muslims worldwide have proven to be an enemy of civilization….I rely don’t want to have to say that all Muslims are in this category..I’m sure there are some who are actually AFRAID not to follow the teachings of islam…but I must say so, because if they are not all for it then why have they not gathered together and taken action. I suppose FEAR for “some” but not many. so all Muslims are against civilization and any other group that opposes them..So Sad!
LeftisruiningCanada says
Christ be with them all.
abu taleb says
I think, there is an organized attempt to attack the non muslims in Indonesia. Although not always ends with violence and is not always successful, various attempts have been made every where in Indonesia to stop non muslim activities with support from various Islamic organizations.
Around ten years ago, a neighbor held a Christian gathering in his house every week. Nobody in the neighborhood complained because it was held at around 9-10 am, so it hardly bothered anybody, Then somebody came and tried to incite people to stop the activity. Luckily it failed. I bet, there was an organization behind it.
A lot happening in Indonesia, only it often doesn’t show up in the media
LeftisruiningCanada says
” it was held at around 9-10 am, so it hardly bothered anybody”
The ‘brothers’ don’t work much there either ey?
Abu taleb says
Good muslims will always enforce other people, including other muslims, to do what they want. Then they will be rewarded by their god. No need for non muslims to be hostile toward muslims to get attacks from the muslims.
StellaSaidSo says
40 years of Saudi ‘investment’ in ‘Wahhabising’ Indonesian Muslims is now showing results. You can be sure that there is ‘organisation behind it’. The goal is total domination under sharia. This is going to get very nasty.