_WORLD WATCH______________________________
________________Indonesia_______________
Christians fret through government change
Bomber sentenced for Christmas attacks
As Indonesia went through a political crisis in July, with the impeachment of President Abdurrahmin Wahid and the inauguration of Megawati Sukarnoputri, Christians in Jakarta were worried by explosions in two different churches.
Some 70 people were injured when a bomb rocked St. Anna’s church in Jakarta during a Sunday Mass. “There was a violent explosion and people panicked,” said Father Vincenzo Suryatma. “I was in the middle of the homily and Mass had to be stopped.” Just minutes later, a separate blast ripped through a nearby Protestant church, which was fortunately empty at the time.
Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja of Jakarta voiced his anxiety, “I am shocked by the events. I am saddened and concerned, not only for my people who have been injured, but for all the victims of violence here and elsewhere,” he said. The police connected the violence with the social and political tensions prevalent in the country, pointing out that the pattern was similar to the bombing of several Christian churches in Christmas last year.
The days of tension passed without further incident, however. And in August, an Indonesian court sentenced a man to 11 years in jail after finding him responsible for planting 14 bombs during the Christmas terror campaign, which caused 19 deaths and more than 100 injuries.
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