Bekasi church stoned<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Dozens of people on motorcycles threw stones on Sunday morning
\nat a shophouse that served as a church in Cikarang housing
\nestate, Bekasi.<\/p>\n
Bekasi Police chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said that the
\npeople had attacked the building as church officials had not
\nheeded their warnings.<\/p>\n
The people had objected to the presence of the church in the
\nshophouse and had repeatedly threatened to damage the property if
\nchurch officials did not stop holding religious services in the
\nbuilding, according to Djoko.<\/p>\n
When the situation became heated about two weeks ago, a
\nmeeting involving local residents, the authorities and church
\nofficials was held. The church officials agreed to stop holding
\nreligious services in the shophouse, while the people threatened
\nto damage the building if they did not stick to the agreement.<\/p>\n
The people renewed their threat last night, which prompted the
\npolice to deploy personnel to the shophouse to prevent any
\nunlawful incidents.<\/p>\n
In the morning they left, as nothing had happened during the
\nnight.<\/p>\n
\"But after we had left, people came and stoned the building.
\nThe police quickly returned, but the people had all gone by
\nthen,\" Djoko said, adding that two platoons of personnel were
\nsent to safeguard the church.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever their reason behind the attack, the vandalism was
\nunjustified,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Eight witnesses were questioned but police did not arrest
\nanyone in connection with the incident.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports said one church and one shophouse that served
\nas a church in Bekasi were seriously damaged by mobs, while one
\nhouse that served as a church was set on fire one Sunday in early
\nDecember 1999.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bekasi-church-stoned-1447893297",
"image": ""
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