TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Democratic Party spokesman Ruhut Sitompul said his party will leave all legal process to the authorities, including possible sanctions to Tolikara Regent, a Democratic Party cadre.
“We respect the law,” Sitompul said when contacted on Thursday, July 23, 2015.
Tolikara Regent Usman Wanimbo was deemed negligent on the Tolikara incident. A group of people believed to be members of the Evangelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) went to Baitul Mustaqin Mosque in Tolikara when Muslims were performing an Eid prayer on Friday. They protested the use of a loudspeaker during the prayer, stating that it was disturbing an event their church was holding at the same time.
According to the chairman of the Communion of Evangelical Churches and Institutions in Indonesia, Roni Mandang, there was chaos after police officers fired shots at them, which led to the torching of kiosks. Flames from these fires spread to the Islamic house of prayer, once it was known that a person had been shot dead.
It was later confirmed that one person was killed and 11 others were wounded in the incident.
Previously, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo said there was no regulation against building religious prayer houses. Usman said the local regulation was passed by local parliament in 2013.
Tjahjo said the regulation would have not been valid if only passed by the local parliament. It should instead be legalized by the Ministry of Home Affairs after agreed by the Head of Region and local parliament.
However, archive of the regulation has not been found. Ruhut cited possibility of provocations to create rift between religious groups.
DEWI SUCI RAHAYU