MUSLIM CLERIC HELPS CRITICALLY ILL PASTOR TO RECEIVE TREATMENT

INDONESIA

14 May 2004

An Indonesian church leader wrongly convicted of possession of firearms and imprisoned in Palu, Sulawesi, has been allowed to go to Jakarta for medical treatment due to the intervention of a Muslim cleric.

Rinaldy Damanik was wrongly convicted of possession of firearms on 16 June 2003. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment, due to end in September 2005. Rinaldy was a signatory of the Malino peace agreement in December 2001 and has worked hard to end the violence. He has also been an outspoken critic of the police's handling of the anti-Christian violence, which many feel to be the real reason for his arrest.

On 12 April 2004 he became extremely ill, frequently collapsing with a high fever. He had a stone in his urethra and was in urgent need of ultrasound treatment which could not be carried out in the provincial hospital. He was in constant acute pain and in and out of consciousness.

At first, the authorities would not let him leave Palu for the necessary treatment. Pastor Damanik's legal advocates tried on several occasions to convince officials to allow his temporary hospitalisation in Jakarta to no avail. However, after the amazing and unexpected intervention of a senior Muslim cleric, officials finally let him and his entourage travel to Jakarta on Tuesday 4 May, accompanied by two prison guards and two policemen.

Some months ago, the cleric had a vision during prayer that he was to visit Rinaldy in prison. Since then, Ustadz Idrus Alhabsy, who appealed on Damanik's behalf, has been impressed by Rinaldy's life and words. Recently, he became infuriated when he read in the newspapers about how Rinaldy was being treated and how he would die if he did not receive medical treatment. Alhabsy showed great compassion and courage of conviction when he went to the prison on 4 May and confronted the authorities, tearfully pleading for Damanik's release. This dramatic turn of events was very welcome. Very quickly, approval was given for Rinaldy to fly to Jakarta the next day, 5 May, for specialised treatment.

Upon arrival in Jakarta, it was discovered that the stone in his urethra had miraculously dissolved without the need for an operation, though it caused a large scratch. He is still in some pain and will be treated further in Palu, due to stones in his kidneys and a possible Hepatitis B infection.

Rinaldy Damanik's supporters have to raise the funds required for travel to and from Jakarta and for any hospital treatment that he receives there. Barnabas Fund has been able to be of service by allocating some funds for this purpose.