The Case Of Damage To The Church In Cawang Enters The Investigation Stage Of The East Jakarta Police

East Jakarta Metro Police Chief Kombes Nicolas Ary Lilipaly/ Photo: Rizky Sulistio/ VOI

The case of the destruction of the Taman Harapan Church in Cawang, Kramat Jati District, East Jakarta, is still being handled by the East Jakarta Metro Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim). The problem is currently still in the stage of examining witnesses at the East Jakarta Metro Police.

"We are examining witnesses, securing evidence, sending a Notification of Investigation Results (SP2HP) for the third time to the reporting party and we will also summon the reported parties," said East Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Kombes Nicolas Ary Lilipaly to VOI, Monday, July 8.

East Jakarta Metro Police Satreskrim investigators also conducted a case title and raised it to the investigation stage.

"We are committed that the handling of church cases will be carried out in accordance with professional and proportional legal procedures," he said.

The destruction of the church began with an internal problem between two groups of Western Indonesian Protestant Church (GPIB) and the Anugerah Basin Christian Church (GABK).

Even though the two pilgrims have been mediated by the East Jakarta Metro Police. Both parties have agreed on a joint decision between the GPIB and GABK congregations.

"On February 21, 2024, there was a mutual agreement between the two parties. The church building can be used together with different hours," added Kombes Nicolas.

As is known, the joint agreement was led directly by the East Jakarta Metro Police Chief, Kombes Nicolas Ary Lilipaly.

"I led the mediation at that time. At that time there were also from the Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) from East Jakarta Pastor Frans and Pastor Hosea. Both GPIB and GABK agreed to use the church together," he said.

In the mediation, the two congregations of the GPIB and GABK churches agreed to attend church hours on Sunday. In addition, treatment and others are also borne by both parties.

"This problem is purely a dispute between two church residents, resulting in the damage to the Taman Harapan GPIB church," he said.

As previously reported, two groups of church congregations were involved in clashes on Jalan Budhi, Cawang, Kramat Jati District, East Jakarta, Monday night, June 24.

They attacked each other using wood and stone. It was later discovered that the clashes began with the prohibition of worship against the congregation of the Anugerat Christ Church (GABK).

"We have a schedule for women worship every Monday. At that time, some mothers who came to worship were prohibited," said Pastor GABK, HS Watimuri when confirmed, Tuesday, June 25.