http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2004/June/theworld_June145.xml§ion=theworld&col= Mobs vandalise at least two churches near Jakarta (Reuters) Khaleejtimes online - 7 June 2004 JAKARTA - Unidentified mobs vandalised at least two churches near the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, during services and wounded a preacher who tried to stop them, police said on Monday. One local newspaper said four churches were damaged in the incident on Sunday. Attacks on churches in recent years have normally been confined to eastern parts of the world�s most populous Muslim nation, where Christians and Muslims live in equal numbers and have fought several communal wars. Police said they suspected the attacks were carried out by around 50 local young men in Tangerang, a manufacturing hub near Jakarta. They said the mobs trashed benches, cupboards and sound systems during the attacks, as congregations listened to Sunday sermons. �The attacks happened at shops that had been turned into churches. We have a report that one priest suffered wounds in the attack,� national police spokesman Inspector General Paiman said. �We are looking into whether these churches had permits and whether this was (provoked) by locals displeased with them.� It was unclear if any worshippers were hurt. The Media Indonesia daily newspaper reported the attacks happened at two locations and that one was a commercial building with three shops that had been turned into churches. More than 80 percent of Indonesia�s 220 million people are Muslims, and most are tolerant of other religions. But many poor Muslims see minority groups, especially ethnic Chinese Christians, as controlling the country�s economy. While all religious places in Indonesia need permits from local authorities, those seeking to open new churches have met with resistance from mainly Muslim local communities who fear migrants might proselytise. Militant Islamic groups in the past have also tried to stir up anti-Christian feelings. Police have accused members of the militant Islamic network Jemaah Islamiah of being involved in a wave of bomb attacks on churches across Indonesia on Christmas Eve 2000 that killed 19 people. _______________________________________________ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.arsip.da.ru *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Posting: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 7. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
