Indonesia: Officials try to demolish church buildings
Jul 08 2008
Postings >> Indonesia

Local officials and an Islamist mob joined forces to try to pull down part of a church compound – three years after Christians were forced out.

Two buildings in the compound in Jatimulya village, West Java, were partially dismantled on June 14. But proceedings came to a sudden halt when an official fell from the roof of one of the buildings and the demolition was called off.

The buildings have lain empty since 2005, when the authorities boarded them up following objections from local Muslims about Christian worship there. Three different churches who used the premises were made homeless overnight.

The partial demolition follows a complaint by one church leader that the buildings were being burgled. Rev Pestaria Hutajulu of the Indonesian Evangelical Prophet Church filed a complaint on June 12 with village and district heads, who had originally sealed the buildings and whom she therefore held responsible for the burglaries.

Tensions between local Christians and Muslims first arose in 2004, when an Islamic school was built directly in front of the church compound, limiting access to the church to a narrow passageway.

Matters got worse in 2005 when the authorities closed the church, following Muslims' objections to Christian worship. So church members began to worship in the street – until local Muslims attacked a pastor.

Finally, the authorities agreed to help the Christians find an alternative venue, promising not to tear down the buildings. That help has never materialised. The churches' case has now been taken up by advocacy group Religious Freedom Defenders Team, which has filed a case with police.         

(Source: Compass Direct)

Pray that the authorities will abandon their church demolition plans.

Ask God to build the faith of the three ‘homeless' congregations in Jatimulya.