Another mob attacked Christian believers in Bekasi on Sunday led to renewed calls for the police and national leaders to crack down on the seemingly swelling tide of religious violence.
Approximately 20 members of the Christian Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) in Pondok Indah Timur were chased and beaten with sticks by a mob believed linked to the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), after she tried to services on Sunday to carry on a field Ciketing, Bekasi.
The church house was HKBP sealed by the authorities in June as part of the agreement between Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Muhammad and Murhali Barda, leader of the Bekasi chapter of the FPI.
Witnesses said the attackers appeared to be FPI members, and the attack comes just one day after Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo has criticized for attending the anniversary celebration, and hardline group asked the abuse of religious laws on Ramadan, which begins this week report.
Saor Siagian, the church's legal representative, said that more than 20 members of the congregation were assaulted on Sunday. "We have already reported to the National Police and I also accompanied them for a medical examination at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital," he said.
"[Viewers] and the police were just watching as she cornered me and the others," said the Rev. Luspida the HKBP Simanjuntak, who said she was beaten with a stick.
Although the attackers claimed they were residents, FPI's Murhali was on hand and local people identified the attackers as outsiders, says Indra Listiantara, a researcher at the Institute for Democracy and Peace Setara, who witnessed the violence.
"I checked myself with the locals. They said all the protesters were members or affiliates of the FPI, which had demonstrated against the churchgoers on previous occasions," said Indra.
Habib Salim, head of the regional council of the Council of FPI Jakarta, denied the organization had been involved.
Nur Kholis, a member of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said that the case was the control and it was time for the central government to move! "The problem has dragged on and on. If the regional government is no longer able to settle things, it's time for the governor, together with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to take over," he said.
Nasaruddin Umar, Director General for Islamic Affairs at the Ministry, expressed his disapproval of the violence and said he was an official of the regional office to be appointed to the case to follow.
"Any violation of the law must be acted. I go to the regional office to request a written explanation before I decide what steps to take," he said.
Setara called the police on its promises of resolute action to destroy religious violence. "The National Police should stop this mass anarchy and offer full protection to all activities, worship," program manager Ismail Hasani said in a press release. He said the understaffed police is no excuse.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the National Police chief to take firm action against this attack by a mob, who has repeatedly engaged in violence in Bekasi," he said.
Lawyer and former policeman Bambang Widodo Umar agreed that the force should participate.
"Interreligious Affairs are still a sensitive issue in the country. However, judging from previous incidents, the police should know that when the different religious groups are involved, it means they have to provide more enforcement," he said.
Several "Twitter activists" agreed to meet FPI leader Habib Rizieq today to discuss the growing violence. "It is time for people to act ... We must do something, and that's the least I could do," Mira Meulia-Siregar, an architect and mother of two children. She could not say how many people would participate in the visit.
Fauzi came under fire on Sunday to attend the 12th birthday bash FPI's the day before, with Jakarta police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo. He was also criticized for asking the group to help ensure that the laws and regulations were respected during Ramadan, including the ban on nighttime entertainment make.
"Fauzi Bowo not only acknowledges the existence of violence, he sanctions. His presence was not correct," said Abdalla Ulil Abshar from Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Islamic organization.
Rachland Nashidik, from the Democratic Party, was quoted by Viva News as an appeal to his party Fauzi, a patron party, warn failure to defend the Democrats' drive for pluralism.
Approximately 20 members of the Christian Batak Protestant Church (HKBP) in Pondok Indah Timur were chased and beaten with sticks by a mob believed linked to the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), after she tried to services on Sunday to carry on a field Ciketing, Bekasi.
The church house was HKBP sealed by the authorities in June as part of the agreement between Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Muhammad and Murhali Barda, leader of the Bekasi chapter of the FPI.
Witnesses said the attackers appeared to be FPI members, and the attack comes just one day after Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo has criticized for attending the anniversary celebration, and hardline group asked the abuse of religious laws on Ramadan, which begins this week report.
Saor Siagian, the church's legal representative, said that more than 20 members of the congregation were assaulted on Sunday. "We have already reported to the National Police and I also accompanied them for a medical examination at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital," he said.
"[Viewers] and the police were just watching as she cornered me and the others," said the Rev. Luspida the HKBP Simanjuntak, who said she was beaten with a stick.
Although the attackers claimed they were residents, FPI's Murhali was on hand and local people identified the attackers as outsiders, says Indra Listiantara, a researcher at the Institute for Democracy and Peace Setara, who witnessed the violence.
"I checked myself with the locals. They said all the protesters were members or affiliates of the FPI, which had demonstrated against the churchgoers on previous occasions," said Indra.
Habib Salim, head of the regional council of the Council of FPI Jakarta, denied the organization had been involved.
Nur Kholis, a member of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said that the case was the control and it was time for the central government to move! "The problem has dragged on and on. If the regional government is no longer able to settle things, it's time for the governor, together with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to take over," he said.
Nasaruddin Umar, Director General for Islamic Affairs at the Ministry, expressed his disapproval of the violence and said he was an official of the regional office to be appointed to the case to follow.
"Any violation of the law must be acted. I go to the regional office to request a written explanation before I decide what steps to take," he said.
Setara called the police on its promises of resolute action to destroy religious violence. "The National Police should stop this mass anarchy and offer full protection to all activities, worship," program manager Ismail Hasani said in a press release. He said the understaffed police is no excuse.
"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the National Police chief to take firm action against this attack by a mob, who has repeatedly engaged in violence in Bekasi," he said.
Lawyer and former policeman Bambang Widodo Umar agreed that the force should participate.
"Interreligious Affairs are still a sensitive issue in the country. However, judging from previous incidents, the police should know that when the different religious groups are involved, it means they have to provide more enforcement," he said.
Several "Twitter activists" agreed to meet FPI leader Habib Rizieq today to discuss the growing violence. "It is time for people to act ... We must do something, and that's the least I could do," Mira Meulia-Siregar, an architect and mother of two children. She could not say how many people would participate in the visit.
Fauzi came under fire on Sunday to attend the 12th birthday bash FPI's the day before, with Jakarta police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo. He was also criticized for asking the group to help ensure that the laws and regulations were respected during Ramadan, including the ban on nighttime entertainment make.
"Fauzi Bowo not only acknowledges the existence of violence, he sanctions. His presence was not correct," said Abdalla Ulil Abshar from Nahdlatul Ulama, the country's largest Islamic organization.
Rachland Nashidik, from the Democratic Party, was quoted by Viva News as an appeal to his party Fauzi, a patron party, warn failure to defend the Democrats' drive for pluralism.
