"The Karubaga Tolikara conflict must be handled seriously to prevent a similar incident from recurring in the future," Komber stated here, Monday.
He regretted the attack in Tolikara, as it has harmed communal harmony in Papua.
"We urge the president to set up a team comprising prominent religious, traditional, and concerned figures at the national level to solve the Karubaga Papua conflict," he remarked.
The incident should be handed not only at the local level but also nationally in order to prevent hate, intolerance, and violence from spreading to other regions.
He also affirmed that the perpetrators who set fire to the mosque must be reprimanded in accordance with the existing laws.
The incident also bared the countrys weak intelligence service, as it had failed to anticipate the attack despite the existence of prevailing potential areas of conflict.
Members of the Evangelical Christians in Indonesia (GIDI) stormed and attacked Muslims performing Eid al-Fitr prayers in Karubaga sub-district, Tolikara District, Papua Province, on July 17 morning.
During the attack on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, they also burned down more than 10 kiosks, some houses, and a mosque.
The attackers also pelted stones at the worshipers, prompting security officers to open fire at them. Some 11 attackers were injured, and one was killed in the shootings.
At least 153 Muslims were evacuated to several tents set up at the Karubaga Military Headquarters on Saturday (July 18), as their houses were destroyed in the fire on Eid day.
Papua Regional Police Chief Inspector General Yotje Mende stated that the victims needed assistance, particularly clothing, since their belongings had been razed down by the fire, Republika day reported.
On July 11, 2015, the Tolikara GIDI issued a letter that bans Eid al-Fitr prayers, Muslim women from wearing hijab, and the construction of any places of worship apart from Evangelical churches in the area.
However, GIDI President Dorman Wandikbo informed merdeka.com that the content of the letter was wrong, and he had informed the Tolikara GIDI about it. He believed that the attack occurred as a result of misunderstanding and miscommunication.
According to the Tolikara GIDI, the attackers had only burnt down the kiosks and houses belonging to the local Muslims but had no intentions of setting fire to a mosque located in the same area.
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Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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