0 For Indonesian Christians, Gatherings Bring Tension

Kemal Jufri for The International Herald Tribun Muslims in Bekasi, Indonesia, trying to drown out the hymns of the Batak Christian congregation with an Arabic chant @ The New York Times Company

BEKASI, INDONESIA — Sitting in the shade of a tree in an empty lot, the congregants raised their hymn books and, in response, the police, lined up in a ragged cordon, raised their riot shields. Sunday service was starting for the local Batak Christian Protestant Church and, for the third time in three weeks, the local authorities prepared for a clash.

Across the barricade, enraged young Muslim men in white skullcaps surged forward as the first song in praise of Jesus Christ chimed out. Using their own speakers, they tried to drown out the hymn with their own Arabic chant, “la ilaha ilallah” — there is no god but Allah.

Scenes such as this have become an increasingly frequent sign of religious tension across the Indonesian capital and its urban sprawl, home to more than 20 million people.

0 Penolakan Terhadap HKBP Bekasi Jadi Batu Uji Eksistensi Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia

Kuasa hukum HKBP Pondok Timur Indah Bekasi, Saor Siagian, membantah jika ibadah yang dilakukan jemaat HKBP setiap hari Minggu dengan cara berjalan bersama sejauh 3 kilometer menuju tempat ibadah sebagai upaya provokasi. Ia menegaskan, prosesi jalan bersama dilakukan karena faktor keamanan.

"Ini salah satu cara kami agar merasa lebih dekat, lebih kenal teman, lebih aman, dan lebih kuat dengan cara konvoi. Untuk pulang-pergi kami perlu waktu satu jam," ujar Saor saat dihubungi Kompas.com, Jumat (17/9/2010).