Church activists sue regent

Church activists sue regent

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Protestant church activists have filed a
law suit with the local administrative court against the regent
of North Tapanuli for barring their reverend from leading a mass
this week.

The regent banned Rev. SAE Nababan from leading the mass on
the grounds that the gathering could spark a physical clash with
congregation of a rival camp within the conflict-ridden Batak
Toba Protestant Church (HKBP).

About 5,000 people who had assembled at the Paniaran church in
Siborongborong had to go home in disappointment upon hearing that
security authorities had stopped Nababan as he entered the town,
activists said.

The activists considered the local government's barring
Nababan an "illegal act" and demanded Rp 4 million (US$1,800) in
compensation.

Nababan was the HKBP chief until the military replaced him in
1992 with Rev. P.W.T Simanjuntak. The government's intervention
intensified the bickering in the HKBP. (aha)