Since last November the Indonesian town of Poso and the surrounding province have seen an escalation of targeted attacks and barbarism causing increasing ‘panic’ among people and appeals to the government to assure safety. Recent weeks have seen kidnappings, assassinations by Islamic Tendency with the barbaric mutilation of bodies. In spite of the 2001 peace agreement to end years of bloody clashes between Muslims and Christians, the region looks set to fall into chaos again. The situation is delicate, so much so that the police and local authorities invite citizens - for security reasons - not to leave their homes. The prohibition is extended to the farmers, who cannot tend their fields. In an attempt to end the violence, activists and human rights groups in the area have promoted a peace initiative, calling for the state to intervene to ensure the safety of citizens.