Fear grips HKBP followers in North Sumatra

MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Thousands of followers of the Toba Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) across North Sumatra remain frightened after further violent clashes between rival camps of the conflict-ridden church.

The Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) office in Medan said hundreds of families have fled their homes for fear of raids and counterattacks between the rival factions.

The first known casualty of these recent clashes, however, was a police officer, Second Sergeant Pangkiriman Tambun, 26, who was believed to have been beaten to death by an angry mob in Siraituruk. His body was found in a river last Monday.

Police, who are still investigating his death, said that Tambun was specifically assigned to handle the HKBP conflict and had been asked to work as a plainclothes officer in order to get closer to the community.

His death reflected the growing suspicions harbored by many HKBP followers of the security apparatus which has been accused of lacking impartiality.

There have been no reports of further casualties as a result of the clashes in various districts in North Tapanuli regency during recent weeks, but villagers said dozens were injured.

The villagers said the raids were conducted by people calling themselves the HKBP Task Force.

The force is believed to represent the executive board led by Bishop P.W.T. Simanjuntak, who was installed during a military- sponsored grand synod in Medan in February 1993.

Many HKBP followers who oppose Simanjuntak have rallied their support behind S.A.E. Nababan, the ousted bishop.

The task force, according to the villagers, has conducted raids in various districts in North Tapanuli regency, which is reputedly a stronghold of supporters of Nababan.

Over the past month, there have been reports of clashes in Siborong-borong, Lumbanjulu, Laguboti, Porsea, Silaen, Balige and Tarutung.

Several villages appear almost deserted because most of their residents have fled, according to LBH Medan.

The first physical contact took place on April 10 in Narumenda village in Porsea when Nababan was scheduled to give an Easter sermon. Clashes broke out between supporters of the rival camps as the HKBP Task Force reportedly attempted to prevent Nababan from getting to the church.

Lt. Col. Leo Sukardi, spokesman for the North Sumatra police, confirmed this incident by saying that two police officers were injured. Both camps also reported injuries.

The conflict has since escalated and spread to neighboring districts with the two groups fighting for the right to use the HKBP churches.

On April 23, 60 houses were destroyed by the HKBP Task Force in Narumonda, Sitorang, Hutanagodang, Barimbing and Silaen. The following day, the task force raided North Sigumpar village in Laguboti, ransacking 109 homes. Then on April 30, a similar raid occurred in Silimbat, destroying five houses.

Despite a beefed-up security presence in some of these areas, many HKBP followers were reluctant to file complaints with the police, according to the LBH Medan.

LBH Medan Director Alamsyah Hamdani said that 56 families have sought protection from his office and have pursued their complaints with the police.

"They did not want to deal with the police directly because they did not feel they were getting the full attention they needed," Alamsyah told The Jakarta Post.

North Sumatra is the home base of the HKBP, which, with three million followers, is the largest Protestant denomination in Indonesia. (rmn/emb)