TO REACH THE DAWN, FEBRUARY 13, 2003 Rev Damanik's testimony as told to Ian Freestone Last night, February 12, 2003 Rev Damanik reported to me that in the first week of his arrest he was feeling angry inside. He had gone to Jakarta to present himself as a witness to the conflict in Poso and then discovered that the police were now making him a suspect and were detaining him indefinitely. He felt cheated and let down by the justice system and felt like rebelling. "But I then accepted this as God’s will, and realised that many people are praying for me and supporting me, reported Damanik in the interview. In this change of heart concerning his circumstances, Rev Damanik realised how God could use his confinement to further His purposes. To begin with, there had been very little accurate reporting of the conflict in Poso. Damanik knew many of the facts. He knew his arrest would provide an opportunity to publicly declare the facts of the situation in Poso. "If the truth is not told, then there can be no reconciliation. In order for people to forgive, they need to know who to forgive. My desire is not to be vindictive and blame people, but to clearly set forth the truth, so that there might be true peace" said Rev Damanik. In fact whilst in Jakarta, Damanik had opportunities to 'negotiate his release' and become a free man. Instead he chose to defend the charges against him in order that the truth concerning Poso might be told. It was also here in the police prison in Jakarta that Damanik got to know his fellow prisoners - some of whom were the leading suspects in the Bali bombing! Again, here was another opportunity given by God to share the grace of Jesus Christ. "In one conversation I talked about the philosophy of God and how many people use the concept of God simply to further their own ends. They make God do the evil that they want to do." Rev Damanik also met an Islamic militant leader who had been paid to assassinate him! This self-confessed terrorist had been responsible for the transportation of weapons and ammunition around Indonesia and into Central Sulawesi. During the conversation with Damanik this man apologised for his attitude and his evil intent. The two of them were reconciled right there in the prison! Another miraculous event took place in Damanik's prison cell on December 1, 2002. This experience has strengthened Rev Damanik and is the reason for the strong hope and courage that he has in this time of trial. Here Rev Daminik tells of the incident in his own words: It was a Sunday and I was fast asleep. I was then woken by a man who came into my cell at around 3.00a.m. I noticed the door was not locked. He was a dignified looking man, with a strong but calm and gentle voice and was wearing glasses. He was also holding a newspaper under his arm. After waking me he gave me the newspaper and pointed to an article. He told me to copy out the parts of the article that were marked in red. The man then turned and walked out of the cell. I reached for my notebook and began transcribing the text of the article in the newspaper. It took me about 15 minutes. As I was completing the full stop on the final word of the article the man returned and took the newspaper. He then told me not to follow him but to stay where I was and not attempt to leave the prison. The man left and I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke the next morning I was still leaning up against the wall. I began to think about what had happened the previous night and I assumed I must have been dreaming. But then I saw my notebook and my own handwriting stained by the tears that I had shed. I spoke to the guards on the morning duty and I asked about a strange man coming into my cell. They insisted that no one had come into my cell and that it was impossible for anyone to walk straight past the armed guards. Here now is the content of that article, read out to me last night. It is a rough translation into English but reflects the broad meaning and content. On one side there are many people who are willing to sell their truth and dignity just to be able to achieve power and status in the kingdom of men. On the contrary there are a few people, who never choose to fight against the truth and so betray their inner heart. These few are those who are not of this world; their lives keep on suffering like sheep in the middle of the wolves. This is a very difficult point; but never run from trouble and never be afraid to face the difficulty. The difficulty is normal. In this work of faith there is no way that is easy and simple to reach the noble purpose. In the same way there is no cheap price to get something which is really priceless. Difficulty is something which goes hand in hand with the truth. Difficulty sticks to truth like glue in the jackfruit*. Like the smell of durian*, it cannot be avoided or denied! So although truth is difficult and very expensive we don’t have any choice. We have to be willing to pay the expensive price. The alternative is to say goodbye to the truth. The truth lover has to fight extra hard to be someone with an iron will and at the same time be a person with a pure and transparent heart (like glass). The iron will is strong; it cannot be bent. It is unswerving in its commitment to truth, like John the Baptist, who was prepared to confront Herod the King with those things that were wrong. It was impossible for him to bend or renounce his faith. But there is pain for the truth lover because his heart is like glass and can be scratched and indeed broken. John the Baptist was ultimately killed for his commitment to the truth (i.e. his body was broken) but because he had an iron will it was impossible to shake his faith. His total commitment is the fixed price without the discount! The glass heart is one that is clean from one’s own hidden interests and personal agenda. As with glass, the truth lover is sensitive and easily broken over the injustice and falsehood in the world. This broken-heartedness is not a sign of weakness, but it is a sign of strength and power. He is strong willed and his sharp mouth is able to speak out in the face of untruth and the falsehood of his surroundings. His heart cannot be still or quiet. His heart is always full of fight against injustice. (*Jackfruit - Indonesian fruit with very sticky substance, *Durian - local Indonesian fruit with overpowering smell and strong taste) Rev Daminik has entitled this article, "To enjoy the warmth and cheerfulness of the dawn, there is no other way but to pass through the darkness of night" Rev Damanik has made these words a motto, "I will pass through the darkness of night in order to experience the dawn." It is the message of encouragement he is seeking to give to his flock that are concerned for him in Central Sulawesi. He discourages them from repaying evil with evil and exhorts them saying, "God is the true truth and eternal God. He is full of forgiveness and blesses us with truth and grace which gives us the powerful ability to us to face any challenge and sufferings." It is this same testimony that Damanik gives to the courts when he is required to present his defence. He repeats the words given to him by the mysterious visitor in the prison cell and then outlines fact after fact, name after name and all the details known to him of the Poso conflict. Mona Saroinsong reports, "This is amazing, because the truth of the Poso conflict has never been fully told. Rev Damanik is naming names and is giving detail about government money that was intended to be spent on the refugees but was never passed on. These details tabled in the court are being reported in the local newspaper and many local people, both Christians and Muslims are protesting outside the government offices demanding fairness and justice." REV DAMANIK SAYS THANKYOU "I want to convey my gratitude and thanks for your prayers and moral support that has been given to me. Thankyou not only for the help you have given me but for drawing attention to the Poso conflict. This support is helping all of the victims and is addressing other issues within Indonesia. Please don’t worry about me. Through God, I am strong enough for everything. I am willing to be sentenced 1000 years, or even to be hung as long as the truth prevails and that Poso might have peace."