J

uly 22, p5

In the early morning of Monday, local residents in Bantul, Yogyakarta, and Purworejo, Central Java, managed to foil attempts by unidentified persons to burn down two churches in the two regencies.

Residents living around the Indonesian Baptist Church located in Saman hamlet, Bangunharjo sub-district, Sewon district, Bantul, worked together to save the church after it was set on fire by three unidentified persons.

'€œThe incident took place at around 2:45 a.m. on Monday,'€ the church'€™s reverend Joni Teguh Haryadi told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. Joni said that three unidentified persons, according to some witnesses, lit a used tire and placed it at the church'€™s front door.

'€œFortunately, local residents immediately came to extinguish the fire, otherwise the church would have been gutted,'€ he said.

Your comments:

Well done to those who intervened to prevent the destruction of houses of worship.

These troublemakers are breaking up the fabric of Indonesia and must be stopped. Formal law enforcement agencies seem to have difficulty handling them, so it is up to the people as usual.

Deedee S

I haven´t seen anything regarding this incident in other Indonesian news.

Where is the outrage and condemnation from government officials or other public figures over this intolerant act?

Everything is so focused on Tolikara in Papua (which needs to be investigated and its culprits arrested as well), but where are those people who voiced their condemnation of the Tolikara incident?

Why don´t they speak up for the minority as well?

Simba

Indonesians need to learn first to not be submissive, and that democracy is a shared responsibility.

Until this happens they are only able to lie to themselves about '€œreligious tolerance'€ while the rest of the world and victims from minority groups know the truth.

Bota

It'€™s so sad what happened! These radical Muslim guys should have tolerance and observe a very simple thing: religion is private!

People can believe in anything and attend religious services whenever and however often they want! Please! The politicians have to get active here.

Herozip

Closing down churches is giving the impression that we Muslims are cowards! I'€™d say let them build their churches!

We will approach the battle with pen in hand.

Prince

Being a tolerant person you do not bribe someone, you do not pay someone else, you do not need money! Unfortunately the issues of religious tolerance are still a big problem.

If Indonesians want to build a better society in Indonesia, then be more tolerant to each other based on common sense and not fanatic, naive religious beliefs and I am sure everyone will be happy.

Yono Uca

Mosque burnings (like the one in Papua) are not new in Indonesia. If my memory serves me right there were three mosques burned down in North Sumatra in 2013.

You know we Indonesian Muslims, well the majority of us, do have a big enough heart, or the patience to accept this.

Penyair Henning

Penyair has a valid concern. This is an important group to keep in the loop.

Many commentators on the other hand only pretend to care about Indonesia.

But it'€™s good to have them around as a counter weight.

Sudarshana Chakrta

Indonesia will be a better place if, when it comes to religion practices, everyone in Indonesia can just mind his/her own business: a very simple yet powerful solution.

Djay Subianto

I (partially) moved to Indonesia because I believe this is the
most tolerant Islamic country.

In my immediate environment this is absolutely the case.

When talking to my (Islamic) friends there are by far more similarities than differences in opinion.

But again and again, reports like this bring up some doubts.

What I am missing is that
Muslims stand up and clearly say that they tolerate other religions and that closing Christian churches or threatening people from other religions is not Islam.

There should be a much
stronger voice against intolerant block-heads.

They hurt the reputation of the country, they hurt the community and they hurt international partnerships.

I like Indonesia very much '€” even though there are many things that can and should be improved. I want to keep on liking it!

W Nellen

Here you have some Muslims protesting a church with lame excuses while the cathedral and Istiqlal mosque in central Jakarta are sharing their parking spaces. What an irony.

Why the intolerance here? People must be allowed to practice their faith in peace and harmony.

Loh Taun

Thank you to those Indonesian police for maintaining the rights of those Indonesians under attack from an extremist minority.

Noones

No country in the world is perfect in every way. Where I live, 60 percent of my neighbors are Christians and I went to a Catholic school.

I even went to church just to learn and I have traveled to many countries in the world with various cultures, and guess what?

I never had any problem with people. If you are polite and have respect for people and local cultures, you will have no problem no matter where you are.

But if you are arrogant, you can stumble upon unexpected things. Take my word for it.

Diponegoro