LAKSAMANA.Net, February 10, 2005 02:40 AM
Wafer Row Sparks West Timor Riot
Laksamana.Net - A Catholic mass in West Timor turned violent after a man refused to
eat a Communion wafer, prompting worshippers to torch a police station and vandalize
two others, leaving several people injured, reports said Wednesday (9/2/05).
The riots erupted on Wednesday morning after an Ash Wednesday mass at the
Imaculata Cathedral in Atambua town, located on Indonesia's border with East Timor.
Reports said the unrest was sparked after a Protestant man, who had joined his
Catholic girlfriend at the mass, allegedly crushed his Communion wafer – an action
deemed blasphemous by the Catholic worshippers.
After the service ended, worshippers and others sought to attack the man, identified
as Jacob T. (27), but he was given refuge in a priest's room until police arrived. As
police led the man away, the crowd demanded he be handed over and forced to
apologize for his action. When police refused, the mob attempted to seize Jacob and
fought with officers.
Police then fired warning shots inside the cathedral compound to disperse the crowd.
Angry mobs later protested at three police offices and soon turned violent, starting
fires and throwing stones. Police responded by firing more warning shots and calling
for reinforcements.
At least three police were hospitalized and seven others injured, while some vehicles
were damaged. Dozens of the protesters were injured, but there were no reports of
any deaths.
Atambua Bishop Anton Pain Ratu said Jacob's action was considered an affront to
the Catholic religion because the wafer symbolizes the body of Jesus Christ.
Appealing for peace, he told the rioters they had no right to take the law into their own
hands. "I was more insulted than you were when the holy wafer, which we believe to
be the representation of Jesus' body, was desecrated. But this does not allow as to
kill a man," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.
The bishop accused police of inciting the violence by firing shots outside the
cathedral. "I regret the action of the police officers who opened fire in the cathedral
compound, as this provoked the emotions of the crowd and increased their
opposition,” he was quoted as saying by detikcom online news portal.
Ratu said a similar incident took place in the same area two weeks ago and a man
was still under police investigation.
Although Indonesia is predominantly Muslim, most residents of West Timor, which is
part of East Nusa Tenggara province, are Catholic. West Timor's Belu regency, which
encompasses Atambua, has been the scene of several religious clashes over recent
years.
Belu Police chief Ekotrio Budhiniar said calm had been restored to Atambua by
Wednesday evening, while paramilitary police and military reinforcements were
deployed at strategic places in the area to prevent further violence. "I also apologize
because my officers shot inside the cathedral compound," he was quoted as saying
by Antara.
District police chief Fretes told Agence France-Presse the situation remained tense,
with many shops closed and most people staying indoors.
Jacob was taken by police to the East Nusa Tenggara provincial capital of Kupang for
questioning. Budhiniar said he would eventually be put on trial in Atambua. He is
expected to be charged under the Criminal Code's Article 156 on contempt of religion,
which carries a maximum sentence of four years in jail and a fine of Rp4,500.
Belu Regent Joachim Lopez said he would hold talks with relevant agencies to
discuss the matter.
Military Takes Control
Colonel Muswarno Musanip, chief of West Timor's Wirasakti District Military
Command overseeing security at the border with East Timor, said the Indonesian
Defense Forces (TNI) would remain in charge of security in Atambua for at least three
days to ensure there is no more rioting.
"The main task being undertaken by TNI is to restore public order and prevent further
anarchist actions," he was quoted as saying by detikcom.
He also said local police had been asked not to leave their barracks to avoid inflaming
tensions with residents.
Musanip said TNI's takeover of security was at the behest of local religious leaders
and public figures. He denied that any provocateurs had infiltrated the crowd to incite
the attacks on the police stations.
"The crowd's action was purely spontaneous, resulting from anger that was triggered
by the action of a citizen who took a wafer but did not eat it during the holy mass in
Atambua's Imaculata Cathedral. This citizen is now being detained at East Nusa
Tenggara Police headquarters,” he added.
Copyright © 2000 - 2005 Laksamana.net, All Rights Reserved.
|
