Why churches and schools?

At least three churches and several schools were attacked and vandalized in the recent violence in several towns of East Java. High school students were sitting for their national exams when their schools were attacked.

Unlike past incidents in other parts of the country, which were basically triggered by religious or racial factors, we cannot understand the motive and objective of vandalizing churches and schools which have nothing to do with the conflict among the political elite.

Churches are places of worship and not political activity. And schools are places of learning to enhance the intellectuality of our people. These institutions are certainly not for producing criminals, are they? What if the people who participated in the violence had children in these schools?

We call on the police to take firm measures against the culprits.

Y. LUCAS

Jakarta