INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF COMPASSION September 28, 2004. Breaking News on Rev Damanik Ian Freestone ian@rnc.org.au Pictures: http://www.rnc.org.au/indo/Palu.htm On September 24, 2004, Rev Rinaldy Damanik received news that he was to be released from prison on parole in November of this year! Rev Damanik was arrested in Jakarta on September 10, 2002 after ironically presenting himself as a witness to the riots which has been taking place in Central Sulawesi during 2002. He has been held in prison since that time; first in Jakarta and then in Palu. Despite a mountain of evidence in his defense, and gross contradictions on the side of the prosecution, all acknowledged by leading law experts, Rev Damanik was found guilty in a Palu court in June 2003 on a charge of 'carrying illegal weapons' and sentenced to prison for three years. Appeals to both the High Court and the Supreme Court were unsuccessful. Rev Damanik's fortunes began to change when a leading Muslim cleric, Idrus R al Habsy, widely respected in Central Sulawesi, became good friends with the imprisoned pastor. Idrus has continued to be an advocate for Rev Damanik and recently signed a written guarantee to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights declaring Rev Damanik to be a "man of good character" and that "he should be allowed to go free." The Cleric's interest in Damanik's case began after Idrus's son, Husen, who is chairman of the biggest Muslim organization in Central Sulawesi, was introduced to Rev Damanik when visiting some of his Muslim Youth League friends who were also in the same prison. The muslim youth said to Husen, "we want you to meet Rev Damanik. He is very kind and he is our friend." Husen then became a good friend of Damanik also, visiting him often in the prison. Damanik would say to Husen whenever he left, "please give my greetings to your father." Each time when Husen arrived home he would bring greetings from Damanik to his father and his father would say, "Uhhh, Damanik is a bad man. Be careful he will poison you. Stay away from him." This went on for a long time until God began to speak to Husen's father, Idrus. During Friday prayers over several weeks, Idrus would hear a voice inprayer saying to him, "go and visit Rev Damanik. He is a good man." Eventually he said to his son, "would you take me to visit Rev Damanik." So together they visited Rev Damanik, and continued to do so during this year. They were to become good friends. Idrus discovered that Rev Damanik was a man of peace and they would talk long about how their people could work for peace in Poso, which has been wracked by conflict and bloodshed since December 1998. When Damanik became very sick of May this year, it was Idrus who confronted the prison authorities saying, "you must allow Rev Damanik to leave for Jakarta for medical treatment." In August 2004 Rinaldy and Idrus discussed writing a written guarantee concerning Rev Damanik's integrity and good character. This would be presented to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights in Jakarta. Idrus had been sick, but then signed the guarantee on Friday August the 20th. On the Sunday he spoke to his son and said, "I should have died last week, but I had a responsibility from God that I needed to fulfill and that was signing the guarantee for Rev Damanik." He added, "I will not live to see you at your wedding, but its OK, you have Abang (Rev Damanik). He will be with you." On Monday August 23rd Idrus died. Rev Damanik, who a few days ago celebrated his 45th birthday in prison, received news of his planned release with subdued excitement. He is very much looking forward to seeing his wife Atika and daughter Ananda. He is also very keen to give whatever leadership and encouragement he can to his church community, but he is aware that there is a slim chance that his hopes may be dashed by the legal system. He says, "Wow, this is a miracle. This is a big reduction in my sentence. This can only happen because of the prayers of people all over the world. But there is a 2-3% chance that it may not happen. Please pray that there will be no problem." Mona Saroinsong, from the Church Crisis Centre believes that the local Muslim people will be very positive about Rev Damanik's impending release. "They have now discovered that Rev Damanik is a peaceful man and they will be pleased. However, there may be radical groups, especially from outside the region who may oppose it."   INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF COMPASSION, September 28, 2004.