Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Hundreds of residents rallied on Wednesday against the construction of the Bernades Church in Pondok Cabe Udik subdistrict, Tangerang regency.
"There are a total of 130 churches in the subdistrict and a new church will be built. Of course, this figure is not fitting and conducive for a subdistrict like Pondok Cabe Udik," said Nana Suwardi, one of the protesters.
Residents said they had received information that the construction would consist of not just the church building, but also a large complex sitting on a two-hectare plot of land.
A large church like Bernades should be built downtown, not among residential kampongs in Pondok Ceb Udik, Nana said.
"We have objected twice to the Tangerang regency's Religious Affairs Office, but the officials have told us that the church's construction plans were approved by locals."
He said the officials even showed a list of signatures collected from the residents who agreed with the church's construction plans.
Nana said no locals had been approached for their agreement to the construction plans.
He said residents' signatures must have been forged to pave the way for the construction.
On Nov. 3, 2007, locals attended a meeting at Situ Gintung restaurant organized by Forum Taaruf Umat Beragama.
"We were asked to put our signatures on a blank piece of paper provided by the organizer, but we were told that it was just to document our presence at the meeting," he said.
According to the protesters, the first stone of the church was supposed to be laid at the site on Wednesday, but construction was canceled due to the protests.
No one involved in the church's construction was available to comment on the protest at the construction site.
Catholic priest Rev. Romo Puryanto, who was present at the Nov. 3 meeting, said there were 7,798 Catholics living in Pamulang so the district needed a Catholic church.
"The construction plans to build a Catholic church in the area fulfill all of the requirements. We will only build one Catholic church in Pamulang district," he said in a Forum Taaruf Umat Beragama statement.
Pamulang district chief Achmad Taufik said his administration conducted a series of meetings with several community leaders in response to residents' objection to the church.
Pondok Cabe Udik subdistrict chief Saderi A. Sairi, Pamulang religious office affairs chief M.
Fuadi, Forum Taaruf cleric M. Kahfi, Pamulang Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) member KH.
M. Saidih, and Pondok Cabe Udik MUI member H. Nana were present at the meetings, Achmad said.
"They said to leave it up to the religious affairs minister and the home affairs minister. The did not raise any objections to the construction of the church in Pamulang."
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