The suspected conversion of a Muslim girl in Western Sumatra has set in motion a chain of events that has led to the arrest and detention of several Christians and a call for local Christians to be executed, if they do not leave the area.

It began when a young girl Khairiayah Esniwah or "Defi", met with Christians in Minangkabau in March 1998 and expressed a desire to convert to Christianity from Islam of her own free will.

Because she feared punishment by her family for converting, she willingly moved to Malang, East Java where she continued her education.

However on 12th June 1999 Salmon Ongirwalu, a Christian living in Minangkabau, Western Sumatra, was arrested, accused of kidnapping and raping Defi. Defi had returned to her family in August 1998.

Salmon is still being held without having been convicted but,following a media campaign against Christians living in Minangkabau, the charges against him have intensified to "kidnap and forced conversion" and "blaspheming of Minangkabau Adat (culture) Law."

The media campaign is largely warning the public against 'evil' Christians whose attempts to convert others are perceived to be an affront to the Minangkabau culture.

There have been calls for the execution of all Christians who do not "voluntarily" leave the area, and demonstrations are held daily outside the police station where Salmon is held.

CSW's National Director, Rev Stuart Windsor said, "CSW is very concerned about these arrests which have intensified religious tensions in Minangkabau and have set a dangerous precedent for dealing with minority religious groups".

Other Christians have since been detained and intimidated by the general public and authorities in Minangkabau.

Yanuardi Koto, the head of the Fellowship of W.Sumatra Christians and Pastor Robert Marthinus, the Principal of a Christian school, were both arrested on 19 July, 1999 and are being held, pending trial.

Christians in Indonesia have been increasingly targeted since 1986, accused of betraying the Republic and following a colonial religion. In the last four years nearly 300 churches have been destroyed across the Republic.