Angry Mobs Attack Protestant Churches
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - An angry group of 10 people armed with sticks stormed in a private house that served as a 'temporary church' in Perum Griya Asri I, in the village of Sumber Jaya, Tambun, on Sunday night at around 21.00 PM. No one claimed to be seriously injured, although the Protestant home-church belonging to Rev. Simanungkalit (40) was damaged to such an extent that it can no longer be used.
Tambun lies at least 60 km eastern of Jakarta. Eyewitness said that the attack came as ten unknown people suddenly stormed into the church and began to break windows and put upset the interior of the house. "They came and stayed outside in front of a house for some time before attacking the church. It seems that they were waiting for their accomplices before making the assault," said the witness on condition of anonymity.
No one dared tell the invaders to stop, and so the chaos and violence lasted for almost one hour. After destroying the house-church, the group left the scene at 10.30 PM. Neighbours soon reported the incident to the local chief, Milin Kartono of Sumber Jaya Village. Soon, a number of police from the sub-district of Bekasi were deployed to the area.
Another attack on a Protestant Church also happened at Ellem Church in Ciputat in the sub-district of Tangerang, 25 km south-western of Jakarta. This incident happened when a mob raided the church during a Sunday morning service. The preacher, who attempted to stop the violence, was severely beaten by the attackers but suffered no serious long-term injuries. The attackers wreaked havoc inside the Protestant church, damaging the pews and windows. Police have detained four people accused of the violence.
Another group also attacked three Protestant churches in the neighbouring Pamulang, Tangerang, the same day. No one is reported be seriously injured in these incidents. Local journalists said that the latest attack happened only 30 minutes after the attack in Ciputat. They said that the mob vandalized the building but did not harm anybody inside the church.
Unlike a Catholic Church building that must follow legal procedures when they were erected, these Protestant churches are sometimes 'illegal'. Unlike Catholic congregations which often live peacefully in the society, these Protestant faithful sometimes a very small community - are very often 'fundamentalists' that raise hatred and suspicion among neighbours, mostly from the Moslem community.
Complaints have been made against these 'wild churches' for disturbing the neighbourhood by singing songs very loudly and playing their music strongly late at night. (MH)
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