PBNU Regrets Church Burning Incident in Aceh

Jakarta (Antara) - The Nahdlatul Ulama Central Executive Board (PBNU) expressed its deepest regret over violent clashes that resulted in a church being burnt to the ground by hundreds of armed men at Aceh Singkil district, Aceh.

Hundreds of stick-wielding men razed a church on Tuesday, leading to the death of a man and causing injuries to four others during a clash with a Christian minority group in the district.

"Regardless of the underlying reasons, vigilantism carried out by way of violence cannot be justified by law," PBNU General Chairman Said Aqil Siroj noted in a written statement here on Wednesday.

Aceh Police Chief Husein Hamidi informed AFP that police and the military were jointly deployed to restore law and order, and one of the injured was a member of the armed forces.

Hamidi said the clashes followed a demonstration held last week by an Islamic youth group demanding the local government to tear down several churches they claimed had been built illegally without permits.

According to Hamidi, the local authorities agreed to act, but tensions rose on Tuesday as angry civilians took matters into their own hands.

However, the PBNU chairman has called on the disputing parties to exercise restraint in order to maintain a calm and conducive atmosphere, especially in Aceh Singkil district.

Speaking in connection with the incident, Siroj affirmed that Islam is not a religion that promotes violence, but a religion of morals derived from mercy for the people of the world.

He said the PBNU had urged security officials to act persuasively and mediate the situation as soon as possible.

"Local governments, with the help of all the elements of the society, including officials, Muslim scholars, and community leaders, should promote the interests of the public and uphold the law firmly and fairly," he noted. (*)