Members of Huria Kristen Batak Protestan in Jejalen Jaya subdistrict, home to around 1,500 congregation members, were about to begin their Sunday service at 8 a.m. on the street in front of their sealed church construction site. However, the area had been barricaded by around 700 FUI members and local residents. Some people in the blockade had apparently claimed to be the members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), an affiliate of FUI.

Hundreds of officers from Bekasi Police were present, but were apparently "unable" to stop the mob from attacking the group, leaving around 20 people injured, mostly women.

"The police did not do anything when the mob started throwing stones and hitting and kicking us," HKBP Filadelfia minister Pietersen Purba said.

However, Bekasi Police chief Adj. Comr. chief Iman Sugianto blamed the victims.

"We have warned the congregation not to hold their services in the area, because residents do not want them to do so, but they did not follow our instructions," Iman told The Jakarta Post.

HKBP Filadelfia has been in the area for nearly 10 years, with individuals holding services in each other's homes. By 2007 the group had raised enough money to purchase a 1,000-square-meter plot of land in Jejalen Jaya subdistrict, on which they planned to build their church.

The congregation, however, never commenced construction of the church because their building permit requests to Bekasi Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) and the Bekasi regent remained unanswered for more than a year.

In October 2009, after securing permission from Jejalen Jaya subdistrict chief to hold services on their empty plot, the group built an 8-by-10-meter semipermanent structure to store items such as tables and chairs.

After their land was sealed early this year, the congregation continued to hold religious services on the street, under umbrellas and using newspapers to sit on.

The church's legal counsel, Sahara Pangaribuan, said the police had been negligent during the attacks, and urged the National Police to investigate Bekasi Police for allowing the mob violence to go on.

One church member who was beaten in the incident, Franky Tambunan, 26, said the congregation had attempted to build permanent church several times but the construction had always been destroyed by unknown people. Franky, who had attempted to protect his father during one of the attacks, was hit in the face and kicked several times.

Another victim, Berliana Sinaga, 22, who suffered bruises to her face, said more than one man had hit her head and face several times.

Another victim, Risma Silalahi, 45, said her head continued to hurt after the attack.

Risma said the public had no reason to prevent them from conducting their religious activities.

"They cannot accuse us of *trying to convert people*. We have services in *Batak* language, which nobody else would understand," she said. Judianto Simanjuntak, another legal counsel for the church, said the group planned to hold their next Sunday service in front of the State Palace for want of somewhere to carry out their religious activities. (not)

Popular

Govt, House commission agree on key macroeconomic assumptions

Indonesia, US to sign MoU on $1.25b wheat purchases

Trump sends Prabowo letter to ram through trade talks