Rights probe into church attack urged

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Around 100 protesters grouped in the Cross-religious Forum for Central Sulawesi, staged a rally here on Monday to demand that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) probe a recent church shooting.

"The shooting in this house of worship has interfered with religious freedom, a basic human right," Abdul Malik, a student activist from Alkhairaat University, said while reading out a statement during the rally at the Central Sulawesi legislative council building.

He said the July 18 attack on the Effata church, which killed the Rev. Susianti Tinulele, and previous incidents in the province were due to a lack of firm action by law enforcers against illegal arms. --JP