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)