VP orders quick response to attack on church offices

Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Wed, 09/03/2008 10:45 AM | Headlines

Vice President Jusuf Kalla has ordered Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni and Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo to deal swiftly with a recent attack on the office of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI).

But he stopped short of ordering the arrest of the city public order officers responsible for the incident.

The Vice President was quoted by PGI secretary-general Richard Daulay as saying Tuesday that Maftuh and Fauzi should meet with PGI leaders to seek an immediate solution to the case.

"The delay in resolving the incident could trigger misunderstandings among the public or this issue could be politicized," Richard said, repeating Kalla's words.

Richard led a PGI delegation to a meeting with Kalla at the vice presidential office for the second time after the attack on Aug. 26, 2008.

The religious affairs minister was unable to attend the meeting as he underwent a medical checkup on Tuesday.

The PGI also visited Kalla last Thursday, just two days after dozens of public order officers attacked the PGI office on Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta.

The specific aim of the two meetings was to report the incident to the Vice President.

Richard blamed the attack on city public order officers engaged in evicting street vendors.

Members of the Indonesia Christian Student Movement staged a protest against the eviction, leading to a clash with the public order officers.

The officers chased the students, who hid in the PGI office, and threw stones at the building.

Richard said the PGI office, including its windows, door and gate, were damaged in the fracas.

The PGI also reported the incident to the Central Jakarta Police.

Jakarta Deputy Governor Prijanto visited the PGI office on Wednesday to offer an official apology for his subordinates' actions.

He also promised to provide compensation for damages.

"But we want Governor Fauzi to make sure there will be no more attacks on the PGI office before repairing the damaged property," Richard said.

Richard said the PGI building was attacked again the day after Prijanto's visit.

The PGI, which consists of 87 church organizations, received dozens of letters from church leaders across the country condemning the attack, Richard said.

A number of prominent figures, including Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi and legislators Enggartiasto from the Golkar Party and Ara Sirait from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), visited the PGI after the attack.

The PGI also asked Kalla to help resolve a recent clash at the Arastamar Theological College (STT Setia) in East Jakarta.

More than 1,200 students at the college were relocated from the campus after the clash with residents of nearby Kampung Pulo.

Nearly 570 female students were assigned to a campsite provided by the East Jakarta administration, and the college's 680 male students were sent to a guesthouse.

During the Tuesday meeting, the PGI informed the Vice President of its plan to hold a national congress in Mamasa, West Sulawesi, next year.

About 2,000 delegates are expected to attend the conference.

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |