Mob-induced church closure drama drags on

Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

The police in Bandung, capital of West Java, have sealed off the premises of the Christian HKBP church which was forcibly closed down by a gang of Muslim extremists on Wednesday, in order to prevent more problems.

Cibabat Police Precinct Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Edward Pernong said on Friday the police took the action to prevent any more offenses that could trigger a sectarian conflict.

"We're also still deploying intelligence and detective officers to the church and its surrounding areas to take anticipatory action following the incident on Wednesday," he said.

He added that the police would inform the church leaders when the situation was safe to carry out their daily activities in the church.

The church has requested the police to allow churchgoers to attend service on Sunday.

"At present, we have yet to decide whether or not to allow the Sunday worship request from the church," Edward said.

On Wednesday, over 100 fundamentalist Muslims terrorized the people who were worshiping during a mid-week service, forcing them to leave the premises and ordering the leaders to close it permanently.

The mob attacked the church with stones, then entered the church and stood on the holy altar shouting provocatively.

The attack followed the gang's earlier ultimatum for the church to close down permanently by Nov. 6. The pastors refused to bow down to the threat.

The group, which has long objected to the presence of the church, claimed it had been established without permits from the city authorities.

But the church pastors said that the church, built in 1990, had a permit from the relevant authorities and support from 13 leading figures representing social groups in the area.

The Church minister has called on the authorities to seek a peaceful solution to the standoff in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, K. Anwar, a member of the Bandung regency legislature said local authorities should accommodate both sides interests to avoid any unforeseen incidents in the future.

"The government could get into a tight position if it doesn't allow the churches in the area, but it must give them a new location for the church, if relocation is the only solution," he said.

"That decision must be an equitable one to avoid unwanted incidents."

According to him, the agreement to establish the church at that locale was only made between the church and some local people represented by a village head, thus the local government could close it by law.

Separately, HKBP Minister Marganda Lubis reiterated his hope that the police and the locals could give churchgoers a chance to pray this Sunday.

"We have no idea where we can pray this week," he said.

He said he had reported the perpetrators, led by Wildan Anas, to the police and the incident to the Indonesian Churches's Communion (PGI), the Religious Affairs Ministry and the National Police.