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Filadelfia church service disrupted

Sita W. Dewi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 05/17/2012 4:20 PM

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HKBP Filadelfia: (JP/R. Berto Wedhatama)




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The Congregation of Batak Protestant Churches (HKBP) Filadelfia branch was forced to halt its service to commemorate the ascension of Jesus at their house of worship in Tambun, Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday after a group of people harassed them.



HKBP Filadelfia�s Rev. Palti Panjaitan said that the group of people blocked access to the church building at 8:30 a.m. when the congregation was about to enter and start the service.



�We [the congregation and the people] were only separated by a barricade of policemen who managed to protect us even though the intolerant people were trying so hard to break through the barricade,� Palti told The Jakarta Post.



�They threw urine, sewage and frogs at us � all of which also struck the policemen,� he added.



The group of people, who according to Palti did not carry any flags or symbols that would identify them, also yelled at the churchgoers using a loudspeaker, Palti said.



He said that the parishioners managed to pray for only about five minutes and were not able to conduct other liturgies.



�We tried to negotiate with all parties, including that group and representatives from the local administration. We were told to abandon the service,� he said, �We finally gave in at 10 a.m.�



Palti said that the church representatives were considering filing a police report concerning the incident.



�We want the mastermind arrested,� he said.



The church has been involved in a building permit dispute with local residents for years. Palti said that the church had already obtained the necessary legal paperwork, claiming that the Bekasi administration�s decision to close the church in 2010 was overturned by the Bandung State Administrative Court in West Java in 2011.