Lombok calm after attack on Islamic sect

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Calm returned on Monday to Batuyang village in East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara after a mob burned down a mosque and destroyed eight houses belonging to members of the Indonesian Islam Propagation Council (LDII) sect over the weekend.

Regent Syahdan and West Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen Iman Haryatna held a meeting with members of the local community and religious leaders on Monday to resolve the conflict.

The police sent dozens of police personnel to Batuyang village in anticipation of further attacks.

A group of locals attacked the LDII Muslim sect on Saturday and Sunday evenings over differences in religious practices, forcing 75 people to run to the police station for protection.

Locals accused LDII of preaching and practicing a deviant form of Islam.

No casualties were reported in the attack that saw one mosque and eight houses belonging to the sect burned down.

The incident was the second attack against Muslim sects in East Lombok.

Residents had attacked members of the Ahmadiyah sect in nearby Pancor Selong on Sept. 12, setting on fire eight houses and destroying dozens of other buildings, including a mosque. At least 280 Ahmadiyah followers are staying at the Transito dormitory in Mataram. --JP