We have thoroughly checked. There is no Protestant and Catholic church leader who has been maltreated (in the Temanggung incident) as rumoredTemanggung, C Java, Feb 9 (ANTARA News) - Central Java provincial police chief Inspector General Edward Aritonang denied rumors that a church leader had been maltreated in Tuesday`s clash.
"We have thoroughly checked. There is no Protestant and Catholic church leader who has been maltreated (in the Temanggung incident) as rumored," he said here Tuesday evening.
Aritonang said he had met the administrators and leaders of Pentecostal and Sint Paul churches as well as the Shekinah educational institution.
"None of the church goers and people living around the churches has also become the victim of maltreatment," he said.
He called on the people not to get instigated easily by misleading and groundless information.
"This is official information of the Central Java provincial police that is credible and accountable," he said adding that there were no fatalities in the Temanggung incident.
In the Temanggung incident that happened on Tuesday, 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.
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.
Regarding this Temanggung incident, Archbishop of Semarang Monsignor Johannes Pujasumarta called on Catholics in the district to remain calm.
"I urge Catholics to remain smart and not to be emotional and take violent acts to respond to violence," he told ANTARA.
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 society.
In another development, 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 the root of the problem with assistance of the local administration and other related stakeholders.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
