AMAZING INDONESIAN

For the last several years severe tensions between Muslims and Christians on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi have led to many clashes and deaths. In October 2005, three Christian schoolgirls were killed in the town of Poso. The Muslim militants who committed the murder have met with the Christian parents of the three slain girls. During their meeting the parents told the men they forgave them. UK-based Release International said, "In an extraordinary scene, the families embraced the three Islamist extremists on trial for their daughters' murders and shook hands as a sign of peace." The three defendants - Hasanuddin, Irwanto and Haris - repented of their crime and have expressed their deep sorrow. The three men face the death sentence for beheading the Christian girls as they walked to school. A fourth girl escaped but suffered serious machete wounds. A spokesperson said, "Thank God for the powerful witness of the three Christian families who have been able to extend Jesus' love and forgiveness to the men who killed their daughters. Pray that peacemaking efforts in Poso will gather momentum and bear fruit."