Religious leaders denounce attacks on churches<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Along with expressions of regret, condemnation
\ncame hard and fast yesterday over the recent attacks on East Java
\nchurches which left five people dead and damaged a score of
\nbuildings.<\/p>\n
The influential Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) denounced
\nthe attacks, perpetrated by an angry mob of local Moslems in
\nSitubondo, saying that Islam does not condone inter-faith enmity.<\/p>\n
Following on the council's condemnation was a demand by a
\ndelegation of 40 Christian youths that the National Commission on
\nHuman Rights probe the incident, and that the government punish
\nthose responsible for violations of human rights there.
\nCommission members Clementino Dos Reis Amaral and A.A. Baramuli
\nare flying down to the small East Java town today.<\/p>\n
\"We demand firm punishment for the rioters,\" Daniel Rohi,
\nchairman of the East Java chapter of the Indonesian Christian
\nStudents Movement (GMKI), said.<\/p>\n
The Bishop's Conference of Indonesia regretted that the
\nsecurity forces moved too late to contain the attacks which
\nreportedly spread from Situbondo, some 160 kilometers east of
\nSurabaya, to the nearby towns of Panarukan and Asembagus.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the council of ulemas, Hasan Basri, called on
\nall religious groups, especially Moslems, to be wary of the
\ncampaign of \"certain parties\" to divide the country.<\/p>\n
\"Prophet Muhammad forbade Moslems from committing violence,
\nkilling monks, women and children, or burning houses of worship,
\neven during wars,\" Hasan said.<\/p>\n
\"The council is calling on all religious groups, especially
\nMoslems, to beware of the campaign of irresponsible parties to
\npit one religious group against the others, Moslems with other
\nMoslems, Moslems against the government...\" he said.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Bishops' Conference of Indonesia Julius
\nCardinal Darmaatmadja regretted how discontent and anger over
\ncertain problems drove people to go on the rampage, destroying
\nplaces of worship, and even to kill people.<\/p>\n
\"The incident underlines that some of us are standing where
\nrespect for other people and their religions is at its lowest
\npoint,\" Julius said.<\/p>\n
\"We regret that security officers moved in only after the riot
\nhad gone on for quite a long time and had spread,\" Julius said in
\na written statement, a copy of which was made available to The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He expressed hopes that the Situbondo rioting would be the
\nlast such unrest to occur in the country. \"Unless we're more
\ncareful, it would be very easy for us to commit violence,\" he
\nwarned.<\/p>\n
\"It's now time for us to eliminate enmity from our minds,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The riots were sparked by Situbondo Moslems' anger over the
\njail term requested by the prosecution for a Moslem sect member
\nstanding trial on charges of blasphemy against Islam.<\/p>\n
The mob, considering the requested punishment too lenient,
\nburned down the court building and set fire to a nearby church
\nafter someone shouted that the defendant, Saleh, was hiding
\nthere.<\/p>\n
They then went on a further rampage, reportedly burning and
\ndamaging 21 churches, five Catholic elementary schools, one
\nChristian orphanage, two plazas, three cars and five motorcycles.
\nFive people died inside one of the churches. The frenzy
\nreportedly lasted for about five hours before troops intervened
\nto contain it.<\/p>\n
Rights commission member Amaral said he and Baramuli will meet
\nwith East Java Governor Basofi Sudirman, the Jember regent, and
\nother government officials to discuss the riot.<\/p>\n
Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
\nSecurity Soesilo Soedarman suggested the establishment of
\nregional offices of the Inter-Faith Solidarity Institute.<\/p>\n
\"The Institute may prove effective in settling religious
\ndisputes among worshipers of different religions,\" he said. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/religious-leaders-denounce-attacks-on-churches-1447893297",
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