Mathias Hariyadi

A crowd of at least 100 people attacked and torched a prayer centre of the Christian Batak Synod (Hkbp). They had previously attacked another Christian church five miles away. The violence took place on the first day of the holy month of fasting and prayer for Muslims.

Pamekasan District chief imposes jilbab on female public servants. Restaurants are closed during the day for a whole month. Nightclubs shut down as Muslim fundamentalists go after those who break the rules. On Sumatra Island, civil servants are fired if they break the fast.

Twelve defendants are given sentences ranging between three and six months in jail. In February, they took part in an attack against members of a religious minority that left three people dead. In the country, the courts’ failure to meet out justice has turned into a major controversy. Human rights activist warns that similar episodes are bound to happen in the future.

The Saint Peter Jesuit Seminary in Mertoyudan (Central Java) organises a conference for the benefit of seminarians. Muslim and Catholic leaders note the growth of religious sectarianism and confessional hatreds in the country, which can only be stopped by mutual understanding and respect.

Affiliated with Jamaah Ashrut Tauhid, Abrory M. Ali was using the school to make bombs for attacks against the local police. The authorities suspect a nation-wide terrorist plan. On 12 July, an explosion at the school killed one student. For the authorities, he was preparing a bomb.

Manado diocese sends dozens of volunteers to hand out basic necessities and masks for people in affected areas, which are still under a state of alert. Christians open their homes to displaced people, most of whom are Muslim.

Dozens of human rights and interfaith groups call for sanctions against Saharudin Daming after he attacked Ahmadi Muslims. In a petition, activists demand to know the facts and that appropriate steps be taken.

Public figures and politicians are increasingly willing to admit they practice polygamy. A survey indicates however that most young Indonesian Muslims reject it as well as premarital sex.

Armed with stick and knives, students prevent police from entering the scene of the blast. They are suspected of involvement with Muslim terrorists from the Jemaah Anshorut Tauhid. The alarm is sounded about possible attacks by the group after its leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, is sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The faithful still have to pray by the roadside after their church was shut down. Radical Muslim groups continue to disrupt their activities and issue threats against them. The mayor of Bogor still refuses to accept a ruling by the country’s Supreme Court upholding the Church’s right to build its own places of worship.

Founded by Fr Karl Edmund Prier, SJ, the Indonesian Centre for Liturgical Music promotes inculturation in sacred music, thus giving a boost to the Church’s mission. The Centre has also published ‘The wheel of liturgical music’, a book for players of liturgical music.

With micro-credit and training, Fr. Joseph Suyatno Hadiatmodjo and his volunteers have helped thousands of farmers affected by the volcanic eruption for over two months. The award was presented in recent days by the Yogyajarta. Mataram Rotary Club