Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) has condemned the forced disbandment by local residents of activities at a Christian student retreat in Cidahu, Sukabumi, West Java.
"The PGI condemns the intolerance actions accompanied by terror and violence against religious activities that occurred in Cidahu, Sukabumi, West Java", PGI General Secretary Darwin Darmawan said in a statement on Monday June 30.
Darmawan said the incident was a violation of human rights and the Constitution, specifically Article 28E and Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution and Article 170 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
He also said that they regret the weak response by officials and leaders of the local community who from the beginning already knew the potential for conflict.
"However they failed to prevent and protect citizens who were carrying out religious activities that are guaranteed and protected by the law, this shows the negligence of the state in ensuring the constitutional rights of its citizens", he said.
Therefore, the PGI is urging local governments at all levels to take firm measures and prevent similar incidents from happening. The government, said Darmawan, should prioritize peaceful settlement through dialogue and deliberation according to the values of the state ideology of Pancasila.
"The PGI is highlighting the severe psychological impact, especially for children and other victims, therefore the PGI asks the government, freedom of religion activists to provide assistance and trauma healing services for the victims", he said.
Furthermore, the PGI is also asking President Prabowo Subianto to re-evaluate regulations on religious harmony in the aftermath of the incident.
"The PGI is also asking the President of the Republic of Indonesia to re-evaluate regulations on religious harmony to further guarantee the protection and freedom of worship for all citizens, so that every citizen can worship fairly and joyfully", he said.
Earlier on Friday June 27, a number of residents forcibly disbanded a Christian student retreat Cidahu.
Sukabumi District Police public relations chief First Police Inspector Aah Saifulrohman confirmed the incident of vandalism but claimed that the building that was damaged was an ordinary house that was allegedly being used as a place of worship.
"There was no destruction of a place of worship or church without permission by the community in the Cidahu area of Sukabumi regency. The place is a shelter that was suspected to be a place of worship", he was quoted as saying by Detik.com on Monday June 30.
Saifulrohman claimed that following the incident the situation is conducive. He said that the police are continuing to investigate the destruction of facilities at the shelter or villa and gave assurances that they will continue to carry out law enforcement against the perpetrators of the destruction.
Meanwhile, the head of the Tangkil Village in Cidahu, Ijang Sehabudin, said the vandalism carried out by residents was a form of protest because the shelter was used as a place of worship. He claimed that it also happened because the owner and manager of the villa did not heed the reprimands and appeals by residents.
"So the villa was being used by a place of worship and along with us the Cidahu Forkopimcan [Regional Leadership Coordinating Forum] made an appeal and gave directions, but the owner of the villa did not pay any heed to our warning", he said. (dis/ugo)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "PGI Kecam Pembubaran Retreat Pelajar Kristen di Sukabumi".]
