Doulos Foundation pledges to continue its work
Doulos Foundation pledges to continue its work
JAKARTA (JP): Despite the city administration's order to cease
its operations, the management of the Christian-run Doulos
Foundation in Cipayung, East Jakarta, pledged on Saturday to
continue their activities in the area in the future.
"We haven't yet thought about the city administration's
decision to stop our activities. For what reasons? We've been
processing our permit for two years," foundation executive Andrew
Latuhimin said.
Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday the administration would not
issue a permit to the foundation, which was running a theology
institute and a narcotics rehabilitation center, because it had
no license.
"The city administration did not delay issuing the permit, but
it was they who violated city regulations on land usage," the
governor said.
Sutiyoso said the administration had given food and medicine
to the foundation, but would not give any financial aid to
redevelop the complex.
Andrew's opinion was shared by Zacharias Pattimukay, a
lecturer at the theology institute.
"What kind of permit do they need? We have paid for the permit
and followed all their instructions so that we can obtain it," he
said.
Workers were seen on Saturday installing glass windows in the
multipurpose hall, still relatively intact after Wednesday
evening's attack. Other workers were loading furniture onto
trucks.
One student died and more than a dozen people were injured
when some 300 people armed with sharp weapons and Molotov
cocktails stormed the complex on Wednesday night.
The situation in the neighborhood was tense on Saturday. A
local resident, identified as Tedi, said most local female
residents were staying with their relatives.
He said locals did not have any objections to the students at
the theology institute, but to the students' use of Islamic
symbols and clothing while propagating their beliefs.
"The male students often wore kopiah (Islamic prayer caps)
while the female students frequently wore jilbab (Islamic
clothes), imitating real Muslims," Tedi, who works as a bus
driver on the Cililitan-Cipayung route, said.
"The students always tried to convert local residents to
Christianity by using familiar and gentle methods."
Zacharias, who was hit on the head by a metal pipe and
suffered neck wounds in Wednesday's attack, denied the
allegations.
"There is no such thing here. Our students are preparing to
become reverends or counselors," he said.
City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on
Saturday the attack on the complex was a regular case.
"The case becomes special because of the religions of the
perpetrators and the victims," Noegroho said after a ceremony
marking the official establishment of the National Business
Development Council at the Presidential Palace.
He admitted the attack was well organized. "Yes, there had
been meetings to plan the attack."
Noegroho said he was confident that the police could catch the
mastermind and solve the case.
"I hope all parties related to this case will be frank in
giving information to the police," he said, referring to
suspects, witnesses and residents.
He said the city police had established a special team to
solve the case.
"The team will include professionals as it deals with a
sensitive area. They (team members) have to use a persuasive
approach, not only legal methods, in approaching the residents,"
he said.
The police chief said he was sure that he would be able to
bring the perpetrators to court.
"The President has ordered me to do so. I can't defy him by
saying 'I can't,'" Noegroho said, while citing that he would
focus on the legal aspects of the case.
Noegroho, who led the investigation, disclosed the police had
arrested another three suspects allegedly involved in the attack,
bringing the total of suspects to nine.
He admitted President Abdurrahman Wahid and National Police
chief Gen. Roesmanhadi were also monitoring the Doulos case. (05)