TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Budi Dharma Buddhist Vihara Monastery in Singkawang, West Kalimantan, was attacked with Molotov cocktail on Monday, November 14, 2016, at 3:00 PM Western Indonesia Time. No victims were reported following the attack. The West Kalimantan Police immediately formed a special team to track down the attacker.
"The bomb was thrown to the outer wall of the Monastery," West Kalimantan Police chief Insp. Gen. Musyafak told Tempo on Monday.
Police found bottles, burners, and kerosene. It was reported that two unknown persons on a motorcycle attacked the monastery.
Musyafak explained that the attack was not linked to a Molotov cocktail attack at Oikumene Church in Samarinda.
"I suspect that they were trying to cause commotion ahead of the mayoral election," Musyafak said.
Musyafak revealed that the Molotov cocktail had a small destructive force. It only caused the wall to blacken. However, Musyafak promised that his institution is taking the case seriously.
"The team consists of officers from the intelligence, the investigation unit at the West Kalimantan Police, and the investigation unit at the Singkawang Police Precinct," Musyafak added.
Musyafak called on public not to be provoked by the incident and not to link the attack with similar incidents occurred in other locations.
"I will gather religious leaders for coordination in relation to this issue," Musyafak explained.
Based on information from monastery caretakers Agung Maalim, 51, and Bong Lie Fen, 49, they found out about the attack after they heard a broken glass sound. They saw fire at the yard and immediately extinguish it.
"The bottle was thrown from the unwatched side of the monastery," Bong Lie told the police.
ASEANTY PAHLEVI
