Islamist admits taking part in beheading deaths of three girls and killing pastor, attorney.
JAKARTA – An Islamic extremist on Wednesday January 17 admitted to taking part in the killing of three Christian high school girls in Poso in 2005. He also confessed to shooting the Rev. Susianty Tinulele to death in Palu in 2004.
In a written statement in Central Jakarta District Court, Lilik Purnomo also confessed to participating in other acts of violence in Poso: a bombing at Immanuel Church, beheading a village chief, and shooting Ferry Silalahi, a Christian attorney who had defended the Rev. Rinaldy Damanik, a Christian peace activist.
Purnomo admitted taking part in the murder of the three girls – Theresia Morangke and Yarni Sambue, both 15, and 17-year-old Alfita Poliwo – as they walked to school on October 29, 2005. State Prosecutor Payaman (known by the single name) read the confession signed by Purnomo.
A fourth girl in the 2005 attack, Noviana Malewa, then 15, received serious injuries to her face and neck but survived. She has said that at least six men attacked the girls.
After the murders, the girls’ heads were wrapped in black plastic bags; one was left on the steps of a church in nearby Kasiguncu village, and the other two near a police station five miles from Poso town. The bags contained a note stating in part, “We will murder 100 more Christian teenagers and their heads will be presented as presents.”
A 24-year-old Islamic extremist known by the single name of Hasanuddin last year admitted planning the murders as a “gift” to celebrate Idul Fitri, a festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. The beheadings were also carried out to avenge the deaths of Muslims during inter-faith clashes in the eastern province of Central Sulawesi between 1998 and 2001, according to the defendants.
