Jakarta Deputy Governor Prijanto has politely pressured the management of Arastamar Theological College (Setia) to leave Jakarta, citing high land prices in the capital as the pretext to evict the Christian college to Cikarang, West Java. But the campus ejection to another location will not be able to answer fundamental problems here: Legal certainty and the basic rights of Indonesians as guaranteed by the 1945 Constitution.

There is no guarantee at all from the deputy governor that local people in the new location will not repeat the violent closure of the College by the people of Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta. It means the Jakarta authorities just want to get rid of the college although they know that the same problem may happen again in Cikarang.

Prijanto knows very well that the college has the necessary building permit and that the college and its students have the right to get protection from the state. Even if it does not have a full permit, the government has the obligation to help such an educational institution acquire one.

Richard Daulay of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia said the Setia foundation is still considering the government’s offer. Around 1,400 Arastamar students were evacuated from their dormitory and campus after a brawl between the students and neighboring residents of Kampung Pulo last July. The locals accused one of the students of stealing their property, an accusation rejected by the students.

The students then had to move several times because they could no longer stay at their campus. The government has not punished those responsible or involved in the violence.

It is very clear the root of the problem is more than just the theft accusation.  There has been tension reportedly between the Christian students and the residents, who are mostly Muslims. The insensitive behavior – at least according to their neighbors – of the students and the college management is likely one of the key factors. They could not adjust to the neighborhood. The neighbors were irritated.

But we should not neglect the possibility that the religion factor is also crucial here. There is general feeling among minority groups, especially Christians, that they continue to find difficulties in practicing their religion, including establishing buildings of worship. In some cases some Christians also face obstacles from their neighbors if they hold religious gathering at their homes.

However, it is also true that Christians have often been insensitive to people of different religions. There are so many Christian denominations and they all have their own churches, making many Muslims confused to see so many churches, while their attendance is relatively small.

It is almost impossible for the students to return to their campus. The city authorities have tried to help them find a new campus, although it seems that the officials just want to get rid of the problem.

Letting people take justice into their own hands is a dangerous game. But the trend will continue if the government does not have the courage to enforce the law.

To be positive, however, the college management and the students need to learn from this bitter reality. Who knows, the eviction may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for them.

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