Locals destroy church in Makassar

Locals destroy church in Makassar

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A group of angry locals demolished a Pantekosta church on Jl. Ketapang, Panakukang housing complex in Makassar, South Sulawesi at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, citing the absence of a building permit.

One of the locals who participated in the destruction said on Monday that they had given the Christian community seven days to destroy the building but their warning was ignored by the church leader.

There was no report of casualties in the incident.

South Sulawesi Police chief Firman Gani urged the people on Monday not to take the law into their hands.

"They (the public) cannot do that. If the church was proved to have no construction permit, the officials should destroy it, not the public," said Firman, adding that his team was still investigating the incident. --JP