Catholic church bombed in Yogya

Catholic church bombed in Yogya

Slamet Susanto, Sleman

Unidentified men threw Molotov cocktails at a Roman Catholic
church in the tourist city of Yogyakarta, slightly damaging the
building's door, police said on Thursday.

No injuries were reported as the blast took place early on
Wednesday and the church was empty at the time of the incident.

Police were unable to identify the assailants or the motive
behind the bombing, the latest attack against Christian places of
worship in the country.

The Santo Yosep Roman Catholic Church in Sleman regency, built
in 1981, was cordoned off by police, while security forces stood
by.

The attack caused a small fire that burned part of the
church's main gate and the front part of the wall.

On-duty church officer Anastasia Surajilah, 64, said the
Molotov cocktails were probably thrown at around 3 a.m.

"At that time several residents whose homes are adjacent to
the church heard two explosions. But because it was still dark,
none of them went out to check what had happened," she said.

She said the damage was discovered 12 hours later, when women
held a gathering at the church at around 3 p.m. and found pieces
of glass in the church yard.

Surajilah said church leader Amir Dwijo Suryanto then
immediately reported the incident to the Minggir Police precinct.
However, police officers refused to disclose it to the press
until Thursday.

Police said they found broken bottles with kerosene-soaked
rags close to the church's door, which was slightly damaged by
fire.

Yogyakarta Police chief Brig. Gen. Sudirman said a team of
officers were investigating the church attack to find the
perpetrators and their motives behind it.

"So far we are still investigating and we don't know yet if it
was related to the July 5 presidential election," he told The
Jakarta Post.

However, he believes the attack was not connected with ongoing
religious violence in several parts of the country.

Sudirman said the police have increased security at strategic
sites and public places to prevent more attacks ahead of the
presidential election.

Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X said the
attack was an attempt by "irresponsible people" to provoke
violence in the tourist city.

He said he would meet the provincial police chief to learn
what really happened and to discuss efforts to prevent more
violence.

"I hope the people of Yogyakarta will not be provoked. If they
do not respond, there will be no negative repercussions," the
sultan said.

The governor, who is also the sultan of Yogyakarta, warned
local people against being provoked by similar acts of violence
ahead of the presidential election.

Yogyakarta is an ancient court city, 400 kilometers east of
Jakarta. The ancient Buddhist monument of Borobudur and the Hindu
temple complex of Prambanan are a short drive from the city.

Mobs attacked one church and three houses that had been
converted into churches on Sunday in two neighboring suburbs of
Jakarta, injuring one priest and causing minor damage to the
properties.

The attacks were reportedly prompted by anger of local
residents over the churches' failure to obtain permits as places
of worship.

In the past, such unauthorized churches have been a target of
attacks in the predominantly Muslim country. However, Islam is
not the state religion and the 1945 Constitution guarantees
freedom of belief.