Demolition threatens boarding school
BOGOR, West Java (JP): A demolition threat hangs over the Nurul Imdad Islamic boarding school, which has 400 students, because the mayoralty claims it is built on state land.
Students and teachers fear imminent demolition after the mayoralty issued a second warning on May 25. The first warning was issued on May 15, when the school's management was asked to tear the school down or the authorities would do it.
But accounts differ on why the government wants to reclaim the land.
Government officials said the school was built on state land without proper permits. While admitting the government's claim, the school's management believes it is being threatened because it flatly refused to support the government-back Golkar.
The school favors the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP).
School officials question the motives behind the threatened demolition because the school was dedicated by Bogor regent Eddy Gunardi on Sept. 27 last year as a token of government support.
The case is delicate, involving religion and politics, so the mayoralty referred it to the local military chief, Col. Eddi Budianto.
School official Abdul Basyit said Tuesday that two intelligence officers had told the school's management not to publicize the case because negotiations were still underway.
A reliable source told The Jakarta Post that the headmaster, Kyai Haji Ahmad Zaini Dahlan, had been summoned to the city religious affairs office days after the first warning had been issued.
The source said a government official had told Ahmad that the school would be torn down if his staff and students did not vote for Golkar on May 29. The principal rejected this threat.
Col. Eddi Budianto promised Tuesday that he would ask the Bogor mayor to revoke the warning.
"I call on all santri (students) there to stay calm. I will arrange a meeting between the mayor and school officials to settle the problem."
The Coordinating Body for All-Indonesian Islamic Boarding Schools urged the mayoralty to provide substitute land and buildings if it wanted to reclaim its property, Antara said. (24/aan)