Reverend Damanik

Reverend Damanik's amazing story of truth and struggle in Indonesia

The violence of persecution continues to be rife in Indonesia despite the signing of the peace agreement in December 2001.

Since the conflict between Muslims and Christians in Poso and Palu in 1998 (still an ongoing conflict today), 15,000 men and women have been killed while 7,000 to 8,000 have been made homeless.

Reverend Rinaldy Damanik, President of the Christian group GKST, has become an outspoken political ambassador for the truth behind the conflicts in Poso and Palu.

He has spoken many times on behalf of the truth of this critical situation in the Media and continues to speak on behalf of the Gospel during times of conflict.

In Indonesia, just over 80% of the population are Muslims while there is still a large portion of Christians living in Indonesia. For many Indonesians, living alongside Christian and Muslim communities has been difficult as violence continues to rage between these two major faith groups.

Reverend Damanik had endured much suffering in persecution. He was arrested in 2003 after he had gone to Jakarta to present himself as a witness to the conflict in Poso. He later discovered the police were in reality making him a suspect of the conflicts and were detaining him indefinitely.

Human rights violations have been perpetrated against this man of God.
Testimonies against him (from both the police and military witnesses) have been contradictory and eyewitnesses admitted to being intimidated and abused.

Reverend Damanik was later convicted for allegedly possessing several home- made weapons for which the prosecution demanded a five year sentence. This was later reduced to 3 years however instigators and propagandists have used Damanik's case to blame Christians for the bloody conflict that took place between Muslims and Christians in Poso.

Reverend Damanik refused to stand silent in the face of gross injustice.

During his time in prison, Reverend Damanik was even given poisoned food while in police custody in Palu, thereby justifying concerns for his safety in the hands of the Central Sulawesi Police. According to the medical reports his food package contained rat poison. Fortunately, the attempt on his life was unsuccessful.

Reverend Damanik had become a specific target for persecution as he had spoken many times against political motives of the Indonesian government. Along with his accusations of the Indonesian government, he had constantly protested and spoken up for the sake of the Gospel.

"This is amazing," stated Mona Saroinsong, a full time lecturer and researcher at the university of Manado, "the truth of the Poso conflict has never been fully told. Reverend Damanik is naming names and giving details 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 equality." (Mona Saroinsong was elected in 2005 to become one of the 1,000 women proposed for the Nobel prize). Demanik later stated, "If the truth is not told 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."

The jail sentence in 2003 of Reverend Damanik had attracted international media attention. Some of his prison inmates were even the leading suspects of the Bali bombings! Damanik believed that this was another opportunity given by God to share the grace of Jesus Christ to people who wanted to hear the word of God. During his time in jail, Damanik 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. In his conversation with Damanik, the man apologized for his attitude and his evil intent and the two men became reconciled in the prison cell where Damanik was detained. In Damanik's view, this act of reconciliation between a Muslim and a Christian man was a miracle and encouraged Damanik to continue his fight for truth.

An angel from God

Another miracle occurred on 1st of December 2002 in Damanik's prison cell.
On Sunday morning while Reverend Damanik was sleeping in his prison, he was abruptly woken by a man who had walked into his cell at around 3:00 am. Damanik recalled that the door was unlocked and the man was a dignified looking man, with a strong but calm, gentle voice. He also recalled that the man wore glasses. The man handed Damanik a newspaper and pointed to an article.

The man then told Damanik to copy down into his notebook all the parts of the article that was marked in red. After Damanik had completely transcribed the article, the man had told Damanik not to follow him but to stay where he was and not to attempt leaving the prison. After his last words, the mysterious man left the prison cell and Damanik had fallen into a deep sleep; the next morning, Damanik was still leaning up against the wall when he had awoken. He had thought the events of the previous night was all a dream until he noticed his notebook lying on the ground beside him with his own handwriting, stained by the tears he had shed previously that night. When he later questioned the guards on duty whether they had seen a strange man walking into the cell at night, the guards insisted that no one had come into Damanik's cell, and that it was impossible for anyone to walk straight past the armed guards. Later, Damanik had concluded that the mysterious man from the previous night was an angel sent from God.

Damanik had given Open Doors a copy of the transcript he had copied into his article. It was 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, who never choose to fight against the truth and so betray their inner heart. These few people 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 difficultly. 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.

Reverend Damanik 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." From then on, Reverend Damanik's motto has been, "I will pass through the darkness to night in order to experience the dawn."

Open Doors member Ian Freestone stated that it was this experience that had strengthened Reverend Damanik the most and is the reason for the strong hope and courage that he has had in times of trial in Indonesia.

Reverend Damanik had told Ian that he was seeking to give encouragement to his concerned brothers and sisters in Central Sulawesi who were worried about his situation. He had previously discouraged them from "repaying evil with evil". He extorted them by claiming, "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."

Ian Freestone stated, "It is the same testimony that Damanik gives to the courts when he is required to present his defense. He repeats the words given to him by the mysterious visitor in the prison cell qand then outlines fact after fact, name after name and all the details known to him of the Poso conflict."

The "Holy War" of the Muslims against Christians still rage in the community of Poso today and persecution of the Christian community continues as government authorities turn a blind eye towards the unfolding events of violence. In the midst of these conflicting times, Open Doors assists in supporting persecuted Christians like Reverend Damanik throughout the world. Much prayer is needed for the country of Indonesia as well as for the spiritual strength and well-being of Reverend Damanik. Supporters of Open Doors are encouraged to assist in their plans to help and strengthen the church of Indonesia.

Notes:
During his time in prison, Damanik received a total of 26,866 letters and cards from Christians all over the world. Many of these came in response to an Open Doors letter-writing campaign.

Damanik asked his daughter Nanda to record all the letters received, and said he made an effort to read each and every one, although some letters were written in foreign languages.

In an interview at Maesa Detention Center in late July, Damanik spoke of his plans following release. "When I leave, I will continue to do exactly what I was doing before I was arrested," he told an Open Doors staff member.

"I'm no hero," he added. "I'm just a normal human being. If there are any injustices being done by the government, I will again voice my opinion against it. I don't have any agenda -I'll just keep doing the same thing I did before."

"But there are two things I'd like to do if I could. First of all, I'd like to meet the refugees at different refugee camps to thank them for supporting me.

"Secondly, I'd like to thank all those who have written to me and encouraged me in the prison. All the people, including children, who sent me letters, cards, band-aids, lotion for my skin, and little chocolates with Scriptures written on them - you really touched my heart."

"I was amazed at the children who sent me pictures of trees and clouds and beautiful blue sky. Maybe they knew I couldn't see those things in the prison."

Spending time in prison was also a positive experience for Rev. Damanik himself. "I met Ustadt Abu Bakar Baasyir (Muslim religious leader suspected of ties with al-Qaeda and of having inspired several terrorist attacks) and Imam Samudra (sentenced to life in prison as one of three people who carried out the Bali bombings in October 2002)," he said. "With them, I had the opportunity to discuss some issues".

Damanik also had clear opinions on the sectarian conflict in Sulawesi, which began in the late 1990s. "From the beginning, I've said this is not a religious conflict. The real causes are the injustices we live with - for example, corruption and favoritism, which are not being addressed or handled wisely by the government. This has prolonged the conflict."

Damanik can now look forward to resuming his work with the GKST Crisis Center, which provides help to both Muslim and Christian victims of sectarian violence.

Reverend Damanik Says Thank You
"I want to convey my gratitude and thanks for your prayers and moral support that has been given to me. Thank you 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 1,000 years, or even to be hung as long as the truth prevails and that Poso might have peace."

By Christine Kim