Indonesia: Christians in land dispute attacked
Sep 30 2008
Postings >> Indonesia

Members of a Christian organisation locked in a land row with a private firm in Jakarta are being attacked and threatened by officials sent in to mediate.

Property belonging to the Indonesian Christian Students' Movement (GMKI) has been damaged and its members assaulted by those whose job it is to arbitrate in local disputes.

GMKI's row with the local firm – Kencana Indotama Persada (KIP) – began when part of a plot of land occupied by GMKI was sold off to KIP in 2006. The land is officially owned by the Christian Education Foundation which allows several Christian bodies, including GMKI, use of the plot. Compass Direct news agency reports that KIP bought a portion of the land in 2006 from a Foundation board member acting independently of the board.

KIP has already partially demolished an old building on the disputed plot. Tensions rose when KIP contractors built a wall round the plot – and GMKI students pulled it down.

Instead of acting as impartial arbitrators, Public Order officials are in fact blatantly siding with KIP. Officials threatened to stab GMKI chairman Charles Hutahaean with a bayonet and kicked him in the stomach when he tried to stop them removing GMKI students' protest banners. Compass Direct sources suggest Public Order officials might benefit financially from protecting KIP's business interests.
GMKI lawyers have taken the case to the Supreme Court, which has yet to make a ruling in the case.

(Source: Compass Direct)

Pray that the Supreme Court will intervene to ensure that justice is done and public order is upheld in this case.

Ask God to protect GMKI students and their chairman Charles Hutahaean, and help them to respond wisely.