[Kabar-indonesia] BBC: Indonesia beheadings trial opens

[Joyo at aol.com]

BBC
November 8, 2006

Indonesia beheadings trial opens

A Muslim man has gone on trial in Jakarta over the beheading
of three Christian schoolgirls in the Indonesian island of
Sulawesi.

Hasanuddin is the first of three suspects to face trial over
the October 2005 killings, which shocked Indonesia.

All three men could be sentenced to death if found guilty.

The murders threatened to reignite violence between
Sulawesi's Muslims and Christians, which has continued
despite a 2002 peace deal.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks following the execution
of three Christian militants in September, for attacks
against Muslims in 2000.

Religious motive?

Hasanuddin said nothing as he arrived in the packed
courtroom, according to the BBC's correspondent in Jakarta,
Lucy Williamson.

He faces charges of premeditated murder and carrying out
acts of terrorism, she says.

The three schoolgirls were beheaded as they walked to the
private Christian school near their home in the town of
Poso, in central Sulawesi.

One of their heads was discovered outside a church, adding
to the belief that the murders were religiously motivated.

Speaking before the trials opened, the men's' lawyer told
the Associated Press that all three had admitted involvement
in the killings, which they said were aimed at avenging
Muslim deaths.

The trial is being held in Jakarta for security reasons.

Sulawesi has long been the scene of violent attacks between
Christians and Muslims.

More than 1,000 people are believed to have been killed
during two years of violence triggered by a brawl between
Christian and Muslim gangs in December 1998.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation, but
Christianity is commonplace in some parts of Sulawesi.

Sidebar:

VIOLENT PAST

Previously known as Celebes, Sulawesi is Indonesia's fourth
largest island 80% of residents are Muslim, while 17% are
Christian
A December 1998 brawl in Poso led to months of religious
violence in which hundreds died

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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