Tangerang church attacked, residents escape in fear

Tangerang church attacked, residents escape in fear

TANGERANG (JP): A new Protestant church in the Bumi Serpong
Damai housing complex here was severely damaged Tuesday evening
by dozens of unidentified youths.

Residents who live near the church in the Kencana Loka area of
the complex -- where many houses are vacant -- say the attack on
the church on Jl. Pustaka Kencana in Blok U occurred about 7 p.m.

The roof, front fence and windows of the church, which was
formerly used as a house, were badly damaged.

According to witnesses, the angry group of youths, some riding
motorcycles, pelted stones at the windows and roof of the
temporary church.

Yuliah of Ciater Barat, whose small shop is located on higher
ground, said she saw a boy throw two or three bricks onto the
roof and his companions applauded.

"I could see clearly from here," she told The Jakarta Post.

Another resident, Mistar, of Kampung Jati said: "They also hit
the locked iron fence with their motorbikes. We could only watch
as we were afraid to go any closer."

Mistar's father, Karmun, a 63-year-old fruit trader, said he
doubted that the attackers were from a nearby area.

"We know the complex's security guards well. They often eat at
my son's stall and with some residents from the complex, so we
certainly weren't involved," he said.

During the attack, some residents feared for their lives and
fled.

Mistar said he moved his wife and their three children out of
the house for safety reasons.

"We were frightened and now we have to answer questions about
the incident," his son Karmun said.

After the attack, officers of Serpong Police subprecinct and
the military subdistrict command guarded the area around-the-
clock and questioned residents, Karmun said.

The church remained sealed yesterday as local police continued
their investigation.

Security guards on bicycles have been patrolling the housing
complex.

According to locals, young people were often seen sitting on
the terrace of the empty house, singing and playing guitars.

"The house just started being used (for church services) a few
days ago. I thought it was just an ordinary house," Karmun said.

The church's pastor, Kornelius Billy, was quoted by AFP
Wednesday as saying that the church had opened Sunday. The house
belonged to one of the parishioners.

Earlier in the day, there had been a Christmas celebration for
Sunday school children, he said.

According to Billy, he and his wife were preparing to leave
the church when the group of boys arrived but the couple managed
to escape the attackers.

Fathers from a Catholic church located about six kilometers
from the scene said they deeply regretted sensationalist reports
by some foreign news agencies which said that the church had been
set alight.

"Yes, some people threw stones and other hard materials at the
church but they didn't burnt it," Father Katmo told The Jakarta
Post.

"We're busy preparing Christmas celebration here," he said,
refusing to comment further. (04)