Tension runs high in Bekasi over Sunday services<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Tensions are running high in the Jati Mulya housing complex in
\nBekasi, West Java, with some 1,500 Christians demanding their
\nplaces of worship be reopened with local Muslims insisting they
\nare shut down for good.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) for
\nBekasi area Hotman Hutasoit said on Friday the Christians --
\ncoming from three churches the HKBP, Gekindo and GPDI -- had
\ndecided to hold Sunday services on the streets if local residents
\nkeep blocking roads to their three places of worship.<\/p>\n
\"Holding a Sunday service is our basic need just like eating
\nand drinking. We can't just stop doing it. We will conduct the
\nSunday services even if several residents here threaten us,\" he
\ntold The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
A clash almost broke out last Sunday between members of the
\nthree congregations and local Muslim residents, several of whom
\nclaimed to be members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), when
\nChristians held services on the streets inside the housing
\ncomplex.<\/p>\n
There was brief pushing and pulling between the two groups but
\nno violence occurred as around 100 police officers were deployed
\nto the housing complex.<\/p>\n
Hotman said that their efforts, including discussions with
\nauthorities and a dialog with local residents, had failed to
\nresolve the dispute.<\/p>\n
The dispute began in September, when a group of Muslims
\nblocked all roads leading to the HKBP, Gekindo and GPDI places of
\nworship.<\/p>\n
After several days of discussion, local Muslims insisted that
\nthe 13-year old churches had to be closed down as they had not
\nobtained building permits.<\/p>\n
Local authorities said they were still trying to find other
\nlocations for Christians to hold their Sunday services.<\/p>\n
Jati Mulya village chief Sulaiman said local residents wanted
\nthe three places of worship to be closed permanently.<\/p>\n
\"Local residents want the Christians to hold their services
\noutside Jati Mulya village and the Bekasi regent has recently
\nissued a decree prohibiting the buildings being used for Sunday
\nservices. The regent, police, church representatives and myself
\nhave discussed alternative locations for them,\" he told Post.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Bekasi Regency Herry Koesaeri confirmed Friday
\nthat they were looking for places where the three congregations
\ncould build churches.<\/p>\n
Many churches in Bandung and the Greater Jakarta area have
\nbeen forcefully shut down by hard-line Muslim groups, including
\nthe FPI and the Anti-Apostasy Movement Alliance (AGAP).<\/p>\n
PGI leader Andreas A. Yewangoe complained to President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono earlier about the closure of 23 churches in
\nBandung by hard-line groups since September 2004.<\/p>\n
Christians have long considered a 1969 joint ministerial
\ndecree as the root of the problem.<\/p>\n
The decree requires that congregations wishing to build a
\nhouse of worship to secure approval from the head of local
\nadministration and seek permission from local residents.<\/p>\n
With Indonesia being predominantly Muslims, minority
\nChristians often have difficulties in building churches, and
\ninstead use houses, shop-houses or hotels to hold services.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tension-runs-high-in-bekasi-over-sunday-services-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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