http://www.ucanews.com/2010/04/28/muslims-attack-protestant-property/
INDONESIA - Muslims attack Protestant property
Published Date: April 28, 2010
Church facilities at St. Albert chapel in West Java attacked and burnt by
a mob of extremists in December
JAKARTA (UCAN) - The head of a Christian forum has denounced Muslims' attack on
Protestant properties in Bogor district, West Java.
On April 27 at around 11.30 a.m., hundreds of Muslims attacked a construction
project in Cibeureum village belonging to the House of Protestant Education
Board of Penabur.
Penabur means "spreader" in Indonesian.
The mob burned down three buildings including a security checkpoint and set two
cars on fire.
They also smashed a boxcar and tore down two makeshift buildings where
construction workers were staying in. Heavy machinery at the site was also
destroyed.
Reports say local Muslims were concerned that the building under construction
would be used as a Christian worship venue and education center.
"FKKJ [Jakarta Christians Communication Forum] strongly condemns the attacks,"
said its head, Theopilus Bela.
Bela, who is also the general secretary of the Indonesian Committee on
Religions for Peace (IComRP), lamented that security personnel failed to
protect the Protestant properties.
"The government should be more pro-active in dealing with such violence," he
said. "This will only sully our national image in the eyes of the international
community."
According to the FKKJ, many church buildings had been attacked over the past
few years, with 20 such buildings belonging to both Catholics and Protestants
burned down or forcibly closed since December.
The district police have interviewed six eye witnesses including the
construction workers and local people.
"This area is closed for investigation. Any activities [in this area] must be
stopped temporarily," district police chief Tomex Korniawan was quoted as
saying in media reports.
IJ09563/1599 April 28, 2010 31 EM-lines (249 words)
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