Demolition threatens boarding school

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)