CHRISTIAN SCHOOL UNDER PRESSURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001542

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, DRL, DRL/AWH, IRF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS KIRF ID
SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN SCHOOL UNDER PRESSURE

JAKARTA 00001542 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Pol/C Joseph L. Novak, reasons 1.4(b+d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: On July 25, small clashes involving local
residents and Christian seminary students broke out in East
Jakarta. No one was seriously injured. Police have
evacuated the seminary and placed students and staff in camps
in the Jakarta area. On August 12, the students demonstrated
peacefully to bring attention to their circumstances. Noting
the religious freedom implications of the case, Mission is
urging the GOI to resolve the situation as soon as possible.
END SUMMARY.

TENSIONS AT A SEMINARY


2. (SBU) There has been tension linked with religious
freedom in Jakarta. On July 25, residents of Kampung Pulo, a
mainly Muslim area in East Jakarta, clashed with students at
the Arastamar Theological College (SETIA) campus. (Note:
The seminary is run by Evangelical Christians who are not
linked to any denomination.) Residents--possibly spurred on
by Muslim militants from outside the local community--accused
SETIA students of robbing local residences. A large crowd
attacked several buildings on the SETIA campus lightly
injuring 17 students and causing some damage to buildings.
Police evacuated all students and staff from SETIA and
separated students by gender into two camps in the Jakarta
area.

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT


3. (C) Poloff visited the camps and spoke to Yosep Lifire, a
teacher with SETIA, on August 12 to express USG concern.
During the visit, poloff noted that the students seemed to be
in good shape, with members of their religious community, the
local government and charities providing them food and other
supplies (though the logistics system appears tenuous). In
the two camps, there are over a thousand students total.
Lifire witnessed the July 25 tensions. Although he was
unable to specifically identify the assailants or any
associations they may have had, he alleged that at least some
were members of hard-line Muslim organizations. Lifire
claimed that the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI),a hard-line
group responsible for previous incidents against moderate
Muslims and others, had helped spur on residents of the area.
(Note: We have also heard that at least one aspect of the
tensions involves some sort of land dispute.)


4. (C) Lifire criticized what he characterized as "police
inaction" during the July 25 incident, saying that although
several hundred police responded, only students were
detained. Though Lifire witnessed individuals from the mob
brandishing weapons, he said police made no effort to arrest
them. Police ultimately released the students they had
arrested.


5. (C) As of August 12, the East Jakarta local government
has refused to allow the SETIA students to return to their
campus, asserting that to do so would raise security
concerns. Lifire said he met with a representative of the
surrounding Kampung Pulo village. The representative said
residents do not want the students to return. Lifire hopes
the government will enforce the seminary's legal and property
rights while holding perpetrators of violence responsible for
their actions.

PRESSING THE GOI


6. (C) The case is a bit tangled and--as noted--may involve
a land dispute. That said, Mission has underscored the
religious freedom implications of the case to the GOI and is
urging the government to work to resolve the situation as
soon as possible. On August 12, 250 students from SETIA held
a rally in central Jakarta to draw attention to the
situation. Reports in local print media quoted SETIA
officials to the effect that the students may attempt to

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enter Mission compound in order to claim political asylum.
We have underscored to SETIA officials that they should
approach UNHCR with such questions, not the U.S. Embassy.

HUME