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Officials promise to re-build village torched by Muslim mob
by Scott Gilbreath ~ December 19th, 2008
Ten days ago, a Muslim mob burned two churches and dozens of houses and businesses in Letwaru village, Central Maluku, Indonesia, following vague allegations that a Christian teacher had insulted Islam. Government officials have now promised to re-build the burned buildings before Christmas.
The promises came after hundreds of activists from a local youth organization protested in the streets of nearby Ambon on Monday (Dec. 15), holding these officials responsible for failing to maintain law and order, local media reported.
Also on Monday, police formally questioned a Christian elementary schoolteacher accused of making an anti-Islamic comment. Welhelmina Holle has been accused of insulting Islam while tutoring one of her students; following the Nov. 23 distribution of a flyer expressing the allegation against the schoolteacher, around 500 protestors gathered outside the education agency office and police headquarters on Dec. 9, and the protest quickly escalated into a full-scale riot.
Enraged Muslims destroyed 69 buildings, including two church buildings of a single congregation, 42 homes owned by Christians, four shops and a village hall. They also inadvertently struck 16 homes owned by Muslims.
The allegations first appeared in a pamphlet distributed on 23 November. On 9 December, some 500 protestors marched to the education office and police station, following which rioting broke out. The police had over two weeks to prepare for unrest, but apparently did nothing.
Police have taken Mr Holle into custody and are reportedly considering a formal charge of blasphemy, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
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December 20th, 2008 at 06:15 PM
[...] STEP ONE… Officials promise to re-build village torched by Muslim mob.Step Two? Learn not to burn [...]
December 23rd, 2008 at 05:00 PM
[...] STEP ONE… Officials promise to re-build village torched by Muslim mob.Step Two? Learn not to burn [...]