HKBP clerics convene while rivals stage protests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The chronic internal conflicts of the Toba-Batak
\nProtestant Church flared up again yesterday, with opposing camps
\ntrading threats of ex-communication and boycotts.<\/p>\n
While over 530 clerics from the government-backed camp were
\nconvening to discuss working programs, some 150 clerics and
\nsupporters of the other camp marched to the House of
\nRepresentatives to declare their refusal to accept any ruling
\nmade in the five-day clerics' congress.<\/p>\n
The protesters also demanded an end to the military's
\nintervention in the dispute and a cessation of its alleged
\nviolent treatment of some of the dissenters within the North
\nSumatra-based church, which is known by the acronym HKBP.<\/p>\n
The five-day clerics' congress was opened on Thursday by
\nMinister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher. It is being attended
\nby prominent church leaders, including the church's military-
\nappointed Bishop P.W.T. Simanjuntak who, earlier this week,
\nthreatened to fire over 100 reverends and excommunicate thousands
\nof church members for challenging his leadership.<\/p>\n
The opposing camp, which resolutely backs the leadership of
\nS.A.E. Nababan, called on the legislators yesterday to pressure
\nthe government and the military to back out of the dispute.<\/p>\n
\"It's the military and the government apparatus who have
\ncreated a protracted crises within the HKBP, making use of some
\ninternal factors, and have been playing one church group off
\nagainst another,\" Reverend I.T. Hutapea told legislators
\nJatikusumo and Sukowaluyo of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) faction yesterday.<\/p>\n
\"The military's intervention in this affair should be stopped.
\nWe call on the PDI to pressure the military to stop pitting us
\nagainst the others,\" Hutapea said. \"We also call on all members
\nof the HKBP not to be provoked (by the military's campaign to
\ndivide church members).\"<\/p>\n
The reverends said in a press statement entitled Faithful to
\nthe End that the military's actions flouted President Soeharto's
\nstance on the issue of religion.<\/p>\n
In April 1992 President Soeharto said that \"the state, much
\nless the government, has no authority to intervene in the
\ninternal affairs of a religion, either its teachings or its
\ninstitutions.\"<\/p>\n
The church is Indonesia's largest, with an estimated three
\nmillion members across the country. It split into two opposing
\ncamps in 1992, after it failed to elect a new chief to replace
\noutgoing bishop S.A.E. Nababan.<\/p>\n
The crisis sparked physical clashes among rival camps which,
\nin turn, led to government intervention. A military-sponsored
\nextraordinary grand synod, held in 1993 in spite of opposition
\nfrom the Nababan camp, elected Simanjuntak to lead the church
\nuntil 1999.<\/p>\n
Nababan's supporters have adhered resolutely to their demand
\nthat the election be held anew. They still recognize only Nababan
\nas the legitimate head of the church.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, the reverends, however, told the legislators that
\nNababan's presence was no longer a factor in the dispute, as the
\nreverend had already stated his willingness to step down.<\/p>\n
Hutapea said Nababan had promised not to enter competition at
\nthe grand synod, if one is held, saying he only wants to see a
\npeaceful resolution to the conflict.<\/p>\n
Hutapea added that Nababan has sent a letter to the government
\nexplaining his stance on the issue but that, so far, he has not
\nreceived a reply.<\/p>\n
While the dissenting clerics were meeting the legislators,
\ndozens of supporters, mostly young people, held a demonstration
\nin the lobby of the House building, waving posters and singing
\nsongs.<\/p>\n
The youths demanded that the military's decree appointing
\nSimanjuntak bishop be revoked and that strong action be taken
\nagainst any party using violence in connection with the church
\ndispute.<\/p>\n
In his speech during the opening ceremony, Minister Tarmizi
\ncalled on the church to find amicable solutions to the dispute.<\/p>\n
\"The HKBP, as a religious institution, should be able to solve
\nits internal problems in the spirit of true love,\" Tarmizi said.
\n\"It will not succeed in carrying out its mission and service to
\nits flocks unless the substantial problem has been dealt with,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said the government would no longer attempt to reconcile
\nthe bickering parties, in the wake of the failed efforts of
\nCoordinating Minister of Political and Security Affairs Soesilo
\nSoedarman and Minister of Administrative Reforms TB Silalahi in
\n1993.<\/p>\n
Simanjuntak said yesterday that the clerics' congress would
\ndiscuss all matters except the leadership dispute. \"We have no
\nproblems with the church's leadership,\" he remarked. (rms\/swe)<\/p>",
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