Jakarta (AsiaNews/JP) – Friends and relatives of three Christian girls who were beheaded last month by masked men in Poso – central Sulawesi – yesterday held a protest outside the House of Representatives (Parliament) in Jakarta. They were calling on MPs to do everything possible to arrest those responsible for the barbaric homicides.

"We ask security personnel to get serious about investigating the case," said the group's spokesman, David Malewa, whose younger sister Noviana Malewa was the only one to survive the attack in Poso and who was seriously wounded.

"We are not going to take revenge and have already forgiven the people responsible for the deaths of our daughters and sisters. But can't the state give us a little justice?" The request comes after the release of five men – including a former policeman – suspected of involvement in the triple homicide. The reason for their release: lack of evidence. "If the murderers are not found, we will take legal action against the police," warned David Malewa.

The three students were beheaded on 29 October last, as they were on their way to school. Barely one week later on 8 November, two men armed with pistols shot two 17-year-old girls in the face. The victims are still in very critical condition in Kota General Hospital in Poso.

David, along with a dozen other friends and relatives of the three schoolgirls – Theresia Morangke, 15, Alfita Poliwo, 17, and Yarni Sambue, 15 – came to Jakarta in response to an invitation to join a Pray-for-the-Nation event held yesterday.

During their stay in Jakarta, they met leaders of several religious organizations, including the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), and several foreign representatives from neighboring countries, such as Australia.

Between 1998 and 2001, Sulawesi has been a battleground for clashes between Christians and Muslims. Many fear that latest violence is a sign of resumption of religious conflict. Local Islamic and Christian personalities say the murderers are not Muslims of Poso and they acted on the orders of a group intent of sowing chaos in the region.