Release International

The parents of the three Christian schoolgirls killed in Poso last year have met with the militants accused of their murder -- and forgiven them.

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 -- named as Hasanuddin, Irwanto and Haris -- repented of their crime and expressed their deep sorrow, according to AsiaNews.

Indonesia's vice-president Jusuf Kalla hailed the meeting, which was organised by Indonesian police, as 'an opportunity to bring peace to Poso'. Hasanuddin, Irwanto and Haris have all pleaded guilty to complicity in the murders and could face the death sentence. The three girls were beheaded as they walked to their Christian school in Poso in October 2005. A fourth girl, Noviana Malewa, escaped but suffered serious machete wounds.

The trial of Hasanuddin, held separately from that of his two accomplices, has heard that he plotted the machete attacks from the library of an Islamic school run by his father-inlaw. It emerged that the assassins had watched the girls over quite some time -- and were expecting six to appear. Inexplicably, on the morning of the attack, only four turned up. AsiaNews also reports that the men attacked the girls partly 'to avenge the death of many Muslims' during the sectarian violence in Central Sulawesi from 1999 and 2001. Compass Direct says that Muslim and Christian leaders in Poso are due to meet this month to discuss ways to rebuild peace in the region.

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. Pray that God will be with Muslim and Christian leaders meeting to promote peace this month.

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