Nearly 1,000 students face eviction from temporary residence

http://www.mnnonline.org

3 November, 2009

Riots erupted last week after police tried to evict nearly 1,000 students from their temporary residence.

Indonesia (MNN) ― Nearly 1,000 Arastamar Bible school students faced eviction last week on Oct. 27 from their temporary residence in a West Jarkata mayor’s office building, Voice of the Martyrs reported.

Since July 2008, staff and students of the Bible school had to seek temporary shelters all around the city after Muslim extremists attacked their school. Hundreds shouted « Allahu Akbar, » meaning « God is greater, » and threw Molotov cocktails at the school’s buildings. Then, as students ran out of the burning buildings, the extremists attacked them with acid and machetes.

While living in their temporary residence, the High Court of West Jarkata issued them an eviction notice. The day before it was to be served, the local government turned off the electricity and water to their building.

This led to the student demonstrations in the streets.

« That day … a thousand students were demonstrating outside of the building and making [a barricade with their bodies] to prevent the police troops, local government security troops, and High Court officials from going into the building and destroying it, » VOM said.

When police stepped in to evict the students, they blocked the road, and riots ensued. VOM sources said the riots started when police threw stones at the students, and the students retaliated with plastic chairs and more stones.

« We were pulled in among the police; then they beat us. We had said, ‘Don’t beat us!’ but they didn’t care, » said one of the students arrested by the police.

Since their plight began, VOM has offered support to these students, which included a visit from Tom White, VOM’s Executive Director. He encouraged them to continue to stay strong in their faith.

Pray for continued encouragement and protection for these students

Informations Arastamar School of Theology

March 18th, 2007, in News & Issues, by Patung

The Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in Jakarta has attracted the attention of Islamic militants.

On March 8th 2007 about 200 members of thuggish groups such as Front Pembela Islam (FPI) and Betawi Rempug Forum (FBR) attacked the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology in east Jakarta demanding that it close down, according to international sources. [1] [2] Some newly built dormitories and outlying buildings were burned down, the mob claiming that the school had no permission to build them.

One week later on the 17th the mob returned, one report putting its number at 1000, this time bolstered by some local residents, but about 400 police officers were present, preventing any unpleasantness.

The school in Jl. Kampung Pulo, Pinang Ranti, Makassar, East Jakarta, appears to have some connection to a Dutch Reformed church and has about 1,500 students and has been in existence for 20 years. SETIA’s vice principal, Juwanto, says it has a good relationship with local Muslims and that the original mob was from another area.

Maman Suryadi of the FPI claims that SETIA has 7000 students and that the activities of the theological school disturb local residents, who are mainly Muslim. He complains that students sing late at night.

Abdul Fatah from the Department of Religion’s inter-faith harmony section says if the school really does not have its paperwork in order it will have to close.

~ par Alain Bertho sur 3 novembre 2009.

Publié dans Interventions