JAKARTA - Selly Andriany Gantina, a member of Commission VIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), expressed her regret over the vandalism of the prayer house belonging to the congregation of the Indonesian Faithful Christian Church (GKSI) in Padang, West Sumatra, which occurred during worship and children's educational activities.
According to Selly, this act of intolerance accompanied by violence not only touches on the legal aspects but also shakes the national values that have been built together.
"We all understand that Indonesia is founded on the principle of diversity, upholds tolerance, and guarantees the freedom of every citizen to worship according to their religion and beliefs. Therefore, I urge law enforcement officials to act swiftly, fairly, and wisely in handling this case," Selly said on Wednesday, July 30.
She emphasized that the state must be present to ensure the security of places of worship and provide a sense of justice, especially for the children who were among the victims.
As a member of the DPR overseeing religious, social, and child protection affairs, Selly also urged the public to exercise restraint and not be easily provoked, especially when they observe unusual activities in their communities.
"Regional communities, religious leaders, and all stakeholders need to unite to maintain a peaceful space between religious communities. We must always nurture diversity with mutual respect and care," said the former Deputy Regent of Cirebon.
He stated that social harmony does not happen by itself. Continuous efforts through dialogue, education, and collective commitment are needed to maintain a shared space.
"The state must not only be present during conflicts, but must also actively create an inclusive and safe atmosphere for all religious communities," Selly emphasized.
He noted that a similar incident had occurred previously in Sukabumi, West Java. Therefore, he viewed this incident as a major challenge for the Indonesian nation.
"Violence against places of worship of other religions is not the first such incident. This is our shared responsibility as a nation," he said.
According to him, all parties must strengthen the values of pluralism and view diversity as a wealth, not a threat. He also encouraged leaders and public figures not to be provoked and to continue upholding the national commitment to ensuring a sense of security and justice without exception.
Finally, Selly expressed her hope that the victims, especially the children, would recover quickly, both physically and mentally.
"And hopefully, a similar incident will never happen again in our beloved country," she concluded.
Previously, an act of vandalism occurred on Sunday, July 27, at a GKSI congregation prayer house in RT 03/09, Padang Sarai Village, Koto Tangah District, Padang City. In a video circulating on social media, several residents were seen breaking into the prayer house while carrying wood, breaking chairs and windows. Children attending the service were seen panicking and crying during the incident.
The West Sumatra Regional Police have arrived at the location and secured the crime scene. The Deputy Chief of the West Sumatra Regional Police, Brigadier General Solihin, emphasized that his team would take action against the perpetrators, although no official report has been received yet.
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