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p to 100 residents accompanied by masses from the West Java Islam Reform Movement (Garis) staged a rally at Jiwanaya kampong, Cimenyan district, Bandung regency, on Friday demanding religious activities routinely held in the area stop.

The people gathered after the Friday prayer to warn caretakers of St Melania Church and Alms Foundation, whom they alleged to have conducted religious activities at a building which has illegally been altered into a church.

Ahmad Basir, one of the residents, disclosed that local people were suspicious of a rising number of people flock to the building, which is not licensed as a church.

“We have never given approval for the establishment of a church here, but there are many people asking the address of its location,” Ahmad said after joining the rally.

Activists of Garis, who have founded a 10-member team, went to the building, which was established on a 1-hectare plot of land belonging to the church foundation.

They held negotiations with caretakers of the foundation, while other protesters consisting mostly of housewives unfurled protesting banners outside the building’s gate. One of the banners read: “Don’t ever do apostasy in Jiwanaya”, while the other: “Head of St. Melania Foundation Antonius Julistiana has publicly lied and betrayed Jiwanaya Muslims.”

The rally was guarded by dozens of officers from the Cimenyan Police and one of them was seen bringing with him a rifle.

Agus Sulaiman, one of the 10-member team, said that in line with the permit issued by the Bandung regental administration on Feb. 24, 2009, the building was designed purely for residential purposes.

“We want to get assurance that the license of the building is not misused,” said Agus, adding that there had allegedly local residents were given money when the building was constructed.