Over the past two days, there have been two separate sectarian incidents that shocked the nation.
Two days after a deadly attack on Ahmadiyah followers in Umbulan village, Pandeglang district, Banten province, another sectarian incident happened in Temanggung district, Central Java, on Tuesday.
In the Sunday attack, three Ahmadiyah followers believed to be Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the sect in 1889 as a prophet after Muhammad (peace be upon him), were killed.
In the Temanggung incident, at least two churches and a Catholic school complex as well as a number of vehicles were destroyed.
The incident itself was believed by the Central Java provincial police to have been provoked by misleading information disseminated to the public through short message service (SMS) saying that the defendant of religious blasphemy case, Antonius Richmond Bawengan, 50, would have a light punishment by the Tamanggung district court.
Central Java police chief Inspector General Edward Aritonang said on Tuesday evening that the court`s panel of judges sentenced him to five years in jail.
The two churches, a Catholic school complex as well as a number of vehicles had become the target of mass attacks following a clash during the court session on the religious blasphemy.
In response to the latest incident, Archbishop of Semarang Monsignor Johannes Pujasumarta called on Catholics in Temanggung district, Central Java, to remain calm.
"I urge Catholics to remain smart and not to be emotional and take violent acts to respond to violence," he said.
Monsignor Johannes Pujasumarta said he did deplore the incident saying that the acts of violence in handling problems were not relevant to the life of a civilized people.
"If there are problems, they must be resolved through peaceful ways," he said adding that the Temanggung incident needs to be taken a good lesson for all elements in the society.
Such acts of violence as destroying or damaging other people`s properties were not a "smart solution" to any problem, he said.
"I call on all parties to restrain and not to take revenge," he said.
For the Catholics and those related to churches, they should help maintain a conducive situation by telling others with comprehensive and accurate information, he said.
He said he was waiting for the report of his envoy, Romo P.Riana Prapdi, about the facts and accurate information that he had collected in Temanggung district on Tuesday.
Regarding this case, Indonesia`s national police had arrested a suspect.
"A suspect has been arrested. He is not the resident of Temanggung district but he does come from Central Java," National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said.
However, Pradopo did not reveal the suspect`s name and identity. Despite that, the police chief vowed to bring those involving in the incident to court.
"The suspect that has been caught will help reveal the case. Whoever violating the law will be punished," he said.
Pradopo said he would comprehensively reveal the case and find out the root causes of the problem along with local governments and other related stakeholders.
"At the moment, the police and the Indonesian Defense Force (TNI) apparatuses have been working closely to handle the situation," he said.
Various elements in the society deplored the Temanggung incident.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself denounced the anarchic acts committed by a group of people who destroyed the houses of prayers and their facilities during the incident.
Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said that the president had also instructed the Central Java Police chief to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
"The president also instructed that those involved in the anarchic acts be processed based on the law soon," he said.
The president also instructed security officers and regional government officials to increase their detection efforts, take preventive measures and firm actions against the perpetrators of the anarchic acts.
Djoko said that the government would not tolerate any form of violence carried out by the people against their fellow citizens, no matter what their reasons were.
"The incident should thoroughly be investigated and those behind it should be acted upon firmly," the chief security minister said.
Sharing the deep concerns of various elements in the society, President of the World Conference on Religions for Peace (WCRP), KH Hasyim Muzadi, urged the people from different faiths to remain united.
This noted Nahdlatul Ulama figure also called on them to maintain alertness agaomst irresponsible people`s efforts to ruin the unity and damage the honor of religious followers in Indonesia. (*)
Reporter: By Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
