Churches asked to step up security ties with locals

JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Social Welfare Djailani said on Wednesday he could not guarantee security for churchgoers at houses of worship damaged in unrest last Sunday, but believed their best bet was to strengthen security efforts with locals.

"It's too difficult to guarantee that there will no longer be vandalism. What we can do now is just intensify self-protection through the neighborhood security system."

He was responding to requests from about 25 representatives of churches damaged during the riots.

They were invited to City Hall to help compile data on the damage sustained and to show the administration's willingness to assist them.

The meeting revealed that 22 churches were vandalized or burned in both Central and West Jakarta following clashes between residents of Ketapang in West Jakarta and security guards of a nearby amusement center. Fourteen people died in the ensuing unrest.

Five institutions partly or completely burned were the Church of Christ of Ketapang and Pantekosta church, both on Jl. Zainul Arifin; Santapan Rohani church on Jl. Taman Sari; Isa Al Masih church and GKI Perniagaan church, both on Jl. Perniagaan.

The administration has yet to reveal the financial toll of the unrest, but Rev. Kumala Setiabrata from the Church of Christ said his congregation suffered losses of Rp 3.65 billion (US$486,666).

Santapan Rohani church incurred losses of Rp 2.5 billion, Sidang Jemaat Allah church Rp 340 million and GKI Perniagaan about Rp 50 million, data showed.

Desperate

Most of the church representatives underlined the importance of assuring security for congregation members.

"What we desperately need now is safety rather than material support," said Father Handoko Msc from Catholic Bunda Hati Kudus church in Central Jakarta.

"We are afraid and anxious when we are performing religious services."

Handoko advised the administration to form a communication forum of religious leaders.

Anner Sihotang from Sidang Jemaat Allah church in West Jakarta said his congregation remained uneasy because strangers were "spying" on them.

"We don't know what they are looking for, but their presence has created fear among the congregation."

Sihotang urged the administration to deploy security guards during next Sunday's services.

Another representative, Rev. Luther Tan, from GKI Perniagaan church said his congregation had decided to postpone renovation of the gutted ground floor of the church.

"We are afraid that vandalism may occur again in the future which would make the renovation useless," he said.

Djailani said the meeting could not solve all the problems.

"This time we can just collect data on the financial losses and see how far we can help rebuild the churches."

He added that the administration would facilitate processing of permits for renovation of the churches. (ind)