Gus Dur condems attacks as barbaric<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Denouncing the Christmas eve attacks on churches
\nas barbaric acts, President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday said they
\nwere aimed at destabilizing the nation just as it is about to
\nembark on a new era of economic revival and democracy.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters at Halim Perdanakusuma air base before
\nflying to Irian Jaya, the President said the attacks on churches
\nin Jakarta and several other towns in Indonesia, which left at
\nleast seven people dead and dozens injured, were well organized
\ndestined to undermine his government.<\/p>\n
\"They acted out of desperation in case the government turns
\nstable. The government is about to enter a new era of economic
\nrevival and democracy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"They want to undermine the government, to instill fear and
\npanic among the people so that the government cannot work.
\nSeveral groups are out to create a chaotic situation,\" he said,
\nadding that the attacks were launched by several groups which had
\nbeen used to work together.<\/p>\n
He did not name the groups.<\/p>\n
The President flew to Irian Jaya, capital of Irian Jaya, on
\nMonday to celebrate Christmas with the local Christian community.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman appealed to the public for calm, not to
\nbe intimidated or provoked, by Sunday's series of bombings.<\/p>\n
He also cautioned the public against taking the law onto their
\nown hands, stressing that he had ordered the security apparatus
\nto deploy their full force to handle the situation quickly.<\/p>\n
By targeting houses of prayers, the attackers were trying to
\nset one religious community against another in Indonesia, he
\nsaid. \"Clearly, they are trying to use the name of Islam to
\ndestroy Christians.\"<\/p>\n
From the Vatican City, Pope John Paul, in his Christmas
\nmessage, on Monday condemned the violence against Christians in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The 80-year-old Pope made his comments in his twice-yearly
\nmessage Urbi et Orbi (To the City and the World) from St Peter's
\nSquare before tens of thousands of people.<\/p>\n
\"I am thinking particularly of Indonesia, where our brothers
\nand sisters in faith, even on this Christmas Day, are undergoing
\na tragic time of trial and suffering,\" the leader of the world's
\nsome one billion Roman Catholics said.<\/p>\n
All the three churches that were attacked in Jakarta, the
\nKatedral, the Canisius church and the Santo Yosef, were of Roman
\nCatholic denominations.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-condems-attacks-as-barbaric-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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