Release International

At the funeral of senior church pastor in Central Sulawesi, Christians and Muslims came together in a show of unity and defiance against the extremists suspected of his murder.

Rev Irianto Kongkoli, acting head of the Central Sulawesi Christian Church (GKST), was shot in the neck while shopping in Palu with his wife and five-year-old daughter on October 16. He was rushed to hospital but doctors could not save him. A gunman and an accomplice were seen fleeing the scene by motorbike.

Rev Kongkoli, who was in his 40s, was the 'right-hand man' of peace campaigner Rev Rinaldy Damanik. Rev Kongkoli took on the GKST leadership after Rev Damanik resigned from the post in protest at the execution of three Christians in September. Rev Kongkoli had also voiced strong opposition to the death penalty handed down to the three after they were convicted of alleged involvement in sectarian clashes in 2000.

At Rev Kongkoli's funeral, a large multi-faith crowd accompanied the coffin to the cemetery in the Telise sub district of Palu, as hundreds of police officers looked on. News of his death sparked a day-long protest outside the Central Sulawesi police headquarters - and demands for the authorities to make arrests.

Meanwhile, a group of lawyers and church leaders says it plans to take the Indonesian authorities to the International Criminal Court over the September executions. The Advocacy Service for Justice and Peace in Indonesia claims the executions were 'illegal and unconstitutional'.

• Pray for Rev Kongkoli's family: his wife Rita and their three children, Gita, Ade and Dea. Pray that his fellow Christians will stand firm in their faith.
• Pray that Rev Kongkoli's efforts to bring peace and justice to Central Sulawesi province will be continued by his church - and will bear fruit.

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