JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Hundreds of Christian theology students have been living in tents since a mob of angry Muslim neighbors stormed their campus last month wielding bamboo spears and hurling Molotov cocktails.
The incident comes amid growing concern that Indonesia's tradition of religious tolerance is under threat from Islamic hard-liners.
In talks since the attack, the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology has reluctantly agreed to shut its 20-year-old campus in east Jakarta, accepting an offer this week to move to a small office building on the other side of the Indonesian capital.
"Why should we be forced from our house while our attackers can walk freely?" asked the Rev. Matheus Mangentang, chairman of the 1,400-student school.
The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, which relies on the support of Islamic parties in Parliament, is struggling to balance deep Islamic traditions and a secular constitution. With elections coming next April, the government seems unwilling to defend religious minorities, lest it be portrayed as anti-Islamic in what is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.
The July 25 attack, which injured 18 students, was the culmination of years of simmering tensions between the school and residents of the Kampung Pulo neighborhood.
Senny Manave, a spokesman for the Christian school, said complaints were received from neighbors about prayers and the singing of hymns, which they considered disturbing evangelical activity.
Several neighbors refused to comment, saying they feared that could further strain relations. A prominent banner, signed by scores of people, has been hung over an entrance to the neighborhood.
"We the community of Kampung Pulo demand the campus be closed and dissolved," it says.
The assault began around midnight, when students woke to the crash of stones falling on their dormitory roof as a voice over a loudspeaker at a nearby mosque cried "Allah Akbar," or "God is great" in Arabic.
The unidentified speaker urged residents to rise up against their "unwanted neighbors," said Sairin, the head of campus security, who goes by a single name.
The attack followed a claim that a student had broken into a resident's house, but police dismissed the charge.
Uneasy relations date to 2003, when neighbors began to protest the school's presence. Last year, residents set fire to shelters for construction workers to try to stop the campus from expanding deeper into the neighborhood. Some also questioned the legality of the school's permit.
Christian lawmaker Karol Daniel Kadang accused property speculators of provoking last month's incident to clear the land for more profitable use, after the school refused to sell out.
He also blamed the government for failing to build interfaith relations, which he and others believe are beginning to fray.
"People are still tolerant, but there is a growing suspicion among Muslims of others," said Prof. Franz Magnis-Suseno, a Jesuit priest who has lived in Indonesia for half a century.
He added that the police have failed to prevent both attacks on minorities and the forced closure of Christian churches and nontraditional mosques by mobs incited by radical Muslims.
"The state has some responsibility for this growing intolerance, namely by not upholding the law," he said.
A mob stormed a church service last Sunday in another east Jakarta neighborhood, forcing dozens of Christian worshippers to flee, said Jakarta Police Chief Col. Carlo Tewu. No arrests have been made. Continue >>
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There was a Saudi "foreign investment office" in our community commercial area. And they are actually a front for distributing money to local jihadists spread in several madrassa and terror camps.
This month they have been evicted by the local community (most are also Sunni Muslim) because of their loud protest and public rally for people smoking, eating and drinking during Ramadan.
To tell the truth, how can these foreigners try to tell us how to behave in our own country? We can do whatever we want as long as its according to Indonesian law.
And the law has not forbid people from smoking, eating or drinking during Ramadan in public places, only advise not too.
So cheers!
Its a pity the muslim faith professes jihard or killings in the name of Allah, and thats the reason many learned Muslims living in West secretly become Christians because christiany preaches love, forgivess and peace to all mankind, and they find love and kindness amongst friends and the neighbourhood which is not evident amongst their muslim bretheren, when will peace and sanity prevail, its very soon as Christ is coming again, Praise our Lord for his goodness and mercy amongst our christian bretheren.
And we are going to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in a matter of days. During Ramadan the Muslim cleric would shouts burn the Christians and desecrate their church and Holy Bible over the megaphones more heartily.
In Ramadan we can expect more attack from Sunni Jihadist FPI (Front Pembela Islam) which has its leader Riziq Shibab currently sitting inside jailhouse for FPI previous attacks on Ahmadiyah on 20th of May.
Police Jakarta Metropolitan Criminal Chief Colonel Carlo Tewu should uphold the Indonesian law instead of doing TV interviews citing his hands are tied. How can Kampung Pulo and all East Jakarta residents for this matter can stay as good neighbors for 20 years and turn suddenly as attackers in a matter of weeks? I am resident of East Jakarta since the day I was born
We also have Abubakar Baashir and Jaafar Umar Thalib planning more terrorist attack here in Indonesia with his Laskar Jihad and Majelis Mujaheedin Indonesia which he leaves a few days ago after a quarrel on leadership with a few of his young terrorists.
But we are not afraid, the spirit of our Lord shall guide us and provide safety and prosperity whatever this world say or prescribe against we the followers of Jesus Christ.
Shalom to Tamna
The "Religion of Peace" strikes again!
a dedicated and violent few force their desires on others. May God be glorified through this. May the Christian students be a powerful force for God in Asia. May these islamic extremists be shown the love of God and the future in store for them if they continue on the road they are on.