West Java, Indonesia Gov. Dedi Mulyadi. (Government of West Java)
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Despite an agreement Christians in Indonesia signed to refrain from taking legal action against a Muslim group that attacked their retreat site, the West Java governor has urged legal action against the assailants, sources said.
As police and soldiers looked on, about 200 Muslims on June 27 stormed a Christian youth retreat at a home in West Java Province, driving out participants and damaging property. Carrying banners and shouting, “Destroy that house, destroy that house,” the Muslim mob after Friday mosque prayers attacked the home in Tangkil village, Sukabumi in Cidahu District, at about 1:30 p.m., damaging windows, toilets, a gazebo and garden, according to Sukabumisatu.com.
Besides compensating the homeowner with approximately $6,250 (USD), West Java Gov. Dedi Mulyadi has ordered police to investigate and pledged to oversee all proceedings. Police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the case.
“It is a serious criminal matter that must be addressed legally,” Mulyadi said in a video cited by MediaIndonesia.com. “I believe that the legal process will proceed objectively. I have faith that the officers from the Pelabuhan Batu Police in Sukabumi Regency will act by the facts and available evidence. I will personally oversee the entire legal process to ensure that it is conducted properly, objectively, and thoroughly.”
In the July 1 video, Mulyadi stated during a June 30 meeting in his office with the family members of the attacked home that such prosecution recognizes their status as local permanent residents. The house is owned by 70-year-old Maria Veronica Nina and managed by Yongki Djien and other relatives.
“The vandalism incident involving residents targeting Mrs. Nina’s house, which is now occupied by Yongki and his family of nine, who have been the permanent residents of the Tangkil village, is a serious criminal matter,” Mulyadi said.
He asserted that prosecution was the government’s obligation.
“The government must maintain harmony in its society. West Java must be peaceful and calm,” he said before heading to the site in Tangkil village with the family members on his way to Tangerang, a satellite town of Jakarta.
After inspecting the Christians’ house on July 1, Mulyadi said Yongki’s family must have experienced psychological trauma due to the attack.
“Therefore, the West Java Provincial Government’s psychology team will go to the location to provide psychological assistance,” he said. “The children must recover and not be psychologically depressed. This family can be harmonious again with their neighbors.”
Yongki and his nine extended family members have taken refuge in a hotel in Sukabumi City, West Java, because they were worried about their safety, a relative, Yohanes Wedi, reportedly told Mulyadi.
In contrast to the governor’s measures, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights called for suspension of the defendants’ detention and guaranteed they would obey the law.
“Regarding law enforcement measures, the Ministry of Human Rights is indeed pushing for the suspension of detention of the suspects, and of course we have efforts to enforce the law professionally, proportionally and fairly,” said Thomas Harming Suwarta, special staff of the Ministry of Human Rights, according to Gala.id.
Thomas said the vandalism was the result of a misunderstanding.
“There are many efforts and methods to seek justice, including the restorative justice mediation efforts,” he said, adding that he would ask police to suspend detention.
In response, the head of the Sukabumi Police Resort, Samian, stated that his team would postpone detention of the defendants.
“A request for suspension of detention is a legal right made by the perpetrator or their legal representative,” Samian said. “This request will be processed according to the established mechanisms.”
The restorative justice process can be conducted by the perpetrator alongside the victim, according to Criminal Law Expert Djisman Samosir from Parahyangan Catholic University (Unpar) in Bandung, West Java.
“Restorative justice has its norms. There must be an agreement between the perpetrator and the victim,” Djisman said. “The police, prosecutors, and judges are only mediators. The perpetrator and victim are the ones who submit the case, make a statement, and hand it over to the police. Therefore, those are its rules.”
West Java Police Chief Inspector General Rudy Setiawan said there were seven perpetrators involved in the attack, destruction and vandalism and looting. They damaged a fence, a large cross and a motorbike, he said, according to Detiknews.com.
Videos circulating online show a man climbing a wall and removing a wooden cross attached to it, which he then uses to break a window. In another video, individuals are seen damaging property with chairs and various tools. Other videos depict car damage.
One of the witnesses in the video stated in her video that the attack started during a game session for retreat participants.
“When we were having a game session, we suddenly heard a crowd coming,” she said. “They were banging, shouting, and we were shocked at that moment. Stones were scattered. Stones were thrown everywhere, and we were told to leave the villa immediately.”
They were shocked and tried to remain calm, she said.
“We quickly tried to get the children out of the villa, but it happened so fast that they couldn’t grab their clothes, bags, or equipment,” she said. “We herded them all into the car. And when we got out of the gate, all the cars that we were in were hit, pelted with stones, scratched, scratched, and it really traumatized our children.”
Having taken steps to reconcile the Christians and Muslims, Mulyadi compensated the victims with $6,250 USD, which they said they would use for construction of public facilities and mosques in the area, according to Tribunnews.com.
“We accept this assistance and will distribute it for the benefit of public facilities and nearby mosques or prayer rooms,” Yongki reportedly said.
Indonesian society has adopted a more conservative Islamic character, and churches involved in evangelistic outreach are at risk of being targeted by Islamic extremist groups, according to Open Doors.
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- West Java, Indonesia Gov. Dedi Mulyadi. (Government of West Java)
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