The Straits Times, Thursday June 10, 2004
Church attacked in Java
YOGYAKARTA - Unidentified assailants threw Molotov cocktails at a Roman Catholic
church in Indonesia's tourist city of Yogyakarta, slightly damaging the building's door,
police said on Thursday.
The attack was the latest in a series against Christian targets in the world's most
populous Muslim country. Christians, who make up just 8 per cent of the country's
210 million people, complain that authorities do not do enough to protect them.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sigit Sudarmanto said people living nearby heard two small
explosions early on Wednesday. Police later found broken bottles with kerosene
close to the door, which was slightly damaged by fire.
Lt-Col Sudarmanto declined to speculate on a motive for the attack.
Last week, mobs attacked four churches near Jakarta.
Yogyakarta is an ancient court city 400 kilometres east of Jakarta. The ancient
Buddhist monument of Borobudur and the Hindu temple complex of Prambanan are a
short drive from the city. -- AP
Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holding. All rights reserved.
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