The Newly Built Church In Batam Was Damaged, The Riau Islands Police Asked Residents Not To Be Provoked

Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Pol Zahwani Pandra Arsyad (ANTARA/Yude)

The Riau Islands Police (Kepri) appealed to Batam residents not to be provoked into the alleged destruction of one of the newly built churches in Batam. "I urge residents not to be provoked by this incident, let's take care of each other's harmony between religious communities in Batam," said Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Zahwani Pandra Arsyad when contacted in Batam, quoted from Antara, Thursday, August 10. He said the incident was currently being investigated by the Riau Islands Police. In addition, his party is also trying to mediate between the two parties involved in the incident. "The point is, let's take care of each other together. I hope this incident doesn't exist elsewhere," he said. The incident that had just been built in Batam circulated widely on social media. The destruction was carried out by a group of people using tools. The Nongsa Police Chief, Komol Fian Agung, who was also confirmed, said that the alleged destruction of the building that would be used as a church occurred on Wednesday (9/8). Currently the police are trying to mediate between the community and church administrators. "It happened yesterday on Wednesday (9/8). Currently, the handling of both parties, both the community and the church, we are trying to approach it so it does not spread," he said. Fian said the conflict in church construction in the area had actually been volatile for a long time. The conflict, he said, occurred because residents questioned the permit for the church construction. "The turmoil in the construction of this house of worship has been since 2020. So yesterday's incident was the effect of residents who questioned the administrative permit for the building manager to be used as a Church. Now it is suspected that residents are dissatisfied because the manager cannot show administration. It is related to the signature of local residents," he said. The case of alleged destruction of the building that will be used as a church has been reported to the Riau Islands Police. He asked both parties to refrain from each other.

"The legal case for the alleged vandalism is handled by the Riau Islands Police. We also continue to try to resolve the mediation efforts between the two parties so that they can be resolved properly," he said.