Mob-induced church closure drama drags on<\/p>\n
Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The police in Bandung, capital of West Java, have sealed off the
\npremises of the Christian HKBP church which was forcibly closed
\ndown by a gang of Muslim extremists on Wednesday, in order to
\nprevent more problems.<\/p>\n
Cibabat Police Precinct Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edward Pernong
\nsaid on Friday the police took the action to prevent any more
\noffenses that could trigger a sectarian conflict.<\/p>\n
\"We're also still deploying intelligence and detective
\nofficers to the church and its surrounding areas to take
\nanticipatory action following the incident on Wednesday,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that the police would inform the church leaders when
\nthe situation was safe to carry out their daily activities in the
\nchurch.<\/p>\n
The church has requested the police to allow churchgoers to
\nattend service on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"At present, we have yet to decide whether or not to allow the
\nSunday worship request from the church,\" Edward said.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, over 100 fundamentalist Muslims terrorized the
\npeople who were worshiping during a mid-week service, forcing
\nthem to leave the premises and ordering the leaders to close it
\npermanently.<\/p>\n
The mob attacked the church with stones, then entered the
\nchurch and stood on the holy altar shouting provocatively.<\/p>\n
The attack followed the gang's earlier ultimatum for the
\nchurch to close down permanently by Nov. 6. The pastors refused
\nto bow down to the threat.<\/p>\n
The group, which has long objected to the presence of the
\nchurch, claimed it had been established without permits from the
\ncity authorities.<\/p>\n
But the church pastors said that the church, built in 1990,
\nhad a permit from the relevant authorities and support from 13
\nleading figures representing social groups in the area.<\/p>\n
The Church minister has called on the authorities to seek a
\npeaceful solution to the standoff in accordance with the law.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, K. Anwar, a member of the Bandung regency
\nlegislature said local authorities should accommodate both sides
\ninterests to avoid any unforeseen incidents in the future.<\/p>\n
\"The government could get into a tight position if it doesn't
\nallow the churches in the area, but it must give them a new
\nlocation for the church, if relocation is the only solution,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"That decision must be an equitable one to avoid unwanted
\nincidents.\"<\/p>\n
According to him, the agreement to establish the church at
\nthat locale was only made between the church and some local
\npeople represented by a village head, thus the local government
\ncould close it by law.<\/p>\n
Separately, HKBP Minister Marganda Lubis reiterated his hope
\nthat the police and the locals could give churchgoers a chance to
\npray this Sunday.<\/p>\n
\"We have no idea where we can pray this week,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said he had reported the perpetrators, led by Wildan Anas,
\nto the police and the incident to the Indonesian Churches's
\nCommunion (PGI), the Religious Affairs Ministry and the National
\nPolice.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mob-induced-church-closure-drama-drags-on-1447893297",
"image": ""
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