Indonesia: August 7, 2002

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 The government has been able to defeat attempts by Islamic militants to get a law passed to make Islamic (Sharia) law official. It is obvious that the Islamic militants do not represent large numbers of people, but the militants can muster thousands of demonstrators. But moderates can put even more people on the street.  However, the militants are strong enough to resist government attempts to arrest and keep in custody suspected terrorists. 

Unidentified attackers again attacked Christian villages in Central Sulawesi. Nine attackers were involved. Shots were fired and bombs thrown. Some homes were burned, but there were no injuries. Apparently, a renegade group of Islamic militants are defying the peace deal recently made between Moslem and Christian groups.