Rival church groups clash, 5 injured<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least five people were injured in a clash
\ninvolving two rival camps of the rift-ridden Sumatra-based Toba
\nBatak Christian Church (HKBP) on Saturday, church and police
\nsources report.<\/p>\n
Police sources said that 10 people have been detained for
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
The clash involved supporters of bishop P.W. Simanjuntak and
\nthose of bishop S.A.E. Nababan that Simanjuntak ousted in a 1993
\ncongress in Medan, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The incident happened at about 1 a.m. Saturday when dozens of
\nSimanjuntak supporters were trying to occupy the church building
\non Jl. Sudirman, which is controlled by Nababan loyalists.<\/p>\n
Police, overly cautious about giving a statement, said they
\nstayed away from the scene because the conflict was an \"internal
\nproblem\" of Indonesia's largest church, which has about three
\nmillion members across Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"This is their internal problem and we hope they can solve it
\nwithout external interference,\" chief of South Jakarta police
\nprecinct, Lt. Col. S.Y. Wenas, told The Jakarta Post after
\nmeeting with church members on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
The incident was only one of the many conflicts plaguing the
\nchurch. Earlier this week, a church member was reportedly killed
\nin a brawl in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The animosity dates back to 1992 when a church congress failed
\nto elect a new bishop to replace Nababan. The following bitter
\ndispute among the well-known, hot-blooded Bataks provoked
\nmilitary intervention.<\/p>\n
Since then Nababan loyalists, refusing Simanjuntak, have been
\nseeking an extraordinary congress so that the church can elect
\ntheir leader in a \"democratic\" manner.<\/p>\n
Eyewitnesses said the 30-minute attack started when over 600
\npeople, many armed with knives and stones, arrived at the scene
\non 17 minibuses. They rushed forward though military and police
\npersonnel were already deployed at the premises.<\/p>\n
Church member E. Sinaga said he saw several people injured by
\nflying stones. \"Two of them are still being treated,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Wenas, however, said that the Setia Budi police sub-precinct
\nwas \"collecting data and information\" from a number of people
\ninvolved in the dispute.<\/p>\n
\"None have been arrested,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Police sources, however, told the Post that 10 people from the
\nopposing camps are being held for questioning at the Setia Budi
\nsub-precinct. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rival-church-groups-clash-5-injured-1447893297",
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