The Jakarta Post, November 12, 2001
Bekasi church stoned
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Dozens of people on motorcycles threw stones on Sunday morning at a shophouse
that served as a church in Cikarang housing estate, Bekasi.
Bekasi Police chief Adj. Snr. Comr. Djoko Susilo said that the people had attacked
the building as church officials had not heeded their warnings.
The people had objected to the presence of the church in the shophouse and had
repeatedly threatened to damage the property if church officials did not stop holding
religious services in the building, according to Djoko.
When the situation became heated about two weeks ago, a meeting involving local
residents, the authorities and church officials was held. The church officials agreed to
stop holding religious services in the shophouse, while the people threatened to
damage the building if they did not stick to the agreement.
The people renewed their threat last night, which prompted the police to deploy
personnel to the shophouse to prevent any unlawful incidents.
In the morning they left, as nothing had happened during the night.
"But after we had left, people came and stoned the building. The police quickly
returned, but the people had all gone by then," Djoko said, adding that two platoons of
personnel were sent to safeguard the church.
"Whatever their reason behind the attack, the vandalism was unjustified," he added.
Eight witnesses were questioned but police did not arrest anyone in connection with
the incident.
Earlier reports said one church and one shophouse that served as a church in Bekasi
were seriously damaged by mobs, while one house that served as a church was set
on fire one Sunday in early December 1999.
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