Indonesian Bethel Church
Living Word Congregation
Tenggumung Baru Selatan 51
Surabaya
Indonesia
To: Director General of Protestant Bimas (Bimbingan Masyarakat)
Department of Religion of Indonesia
Jakarta
Subject: The Report on the Upheaval and Vandalism of the Church at
June 9, 1996
Greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ,
I, Rev. Yan Ismail Simlay hereby write to you to report the brutal
attack and vandalism that occurred on Sunday, June 9, 1996 during
our Sunday service.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE EVENT:
1. The Sunday service started at 9:00 AM and ended at 10:50 AM.
2. After the service was over, we closed the church building, my
family and I went back to our house behind the church.
3. Approximately at 11:20 AM, we were shocked by my daughter in
law's cry out for help when she heard that there were hundreds of
people from the north coming to attack the church.
4. I wasn't even finished with my question, when suddenly I saw
around 1500 people mostly from Madura attacking the church's front
entrance.
5. They were carrying all kinds of weapons such as bats, metal
rods, jackhammers, rocks, etc. and destroying the front part of the
church. They climbed to the top of the church and destroyed the
roof to gain access to the inside of the church.
6. Once they entered the church, they destroyed the sanctuary,
they broke the windows, the doors, the benches, the tables, the
pulpit, music equipment, overhead projector, etc.
7. They also robbed the pastor's house behind the church. Tables,
chairs, shelves, beds, and closets were destroyed.
8. They were looking after me while I was hiding in the bathroom.
They were carrying metal bats and other kinds of weapons while
chasing me. My wife, my children, my daughter in law, and my
grandchild ran to the neighbor's house for protection. God protected
me and my family. They tried to break the bathroom door but they
did not succeed. This made them so angry that they destroyed the
closet, telephone, and stole clothes, suits, money, jewelry, etc.
9. 30 policemen arrived at the scene, but the were out numbered
and unable to stop the mob.
10. After destroying and robbing the church and the pastor's
house, they left roaring victoriously.
11. After they left I came out of the bathroom feeling terrified
and traumatized recalling the attack and seeing with my own eyes
what I have labored since 1977 has now been destroyed completely.
I'm also enclosing some pictures that we took for evidences.
I'd also like to report the material loss that our church has to
suffer which includes:
Music equipment:
1 Prince electric guitar
4 Electric bass
1 Yamaha guitar
3 Amplifiers
3 Microphones
Total loss estimated at $3,500.
Church equipment:
18 Benches
4 Stainless steel chairs
1 OHP
Pulpit
2 Offering pockets
4 Fans
Total loss estimated at $3,000
Church building:
Roofs completely damaged
60% of the ceilings were destroyed
5 doors were broken
Lights
Fences
Total loss estimated at $6,000.
Damages at the pastoral house includes:
Household equipment:
Guess couches
5 Closets
1 TV
Electrical meter
Telephone
4 Desks
2 beds
3 Radio and tapes
Kitchen utensils
Total loss estimated at $2,200.
Stolen things:
2 Federal bicycles
1 Sanyo water pump
Shoes and sandals
Family's clothes
Cash about $300
Jewelry about $ 200
Total loss estimated at $1,700.
The total loss is estimated at Rp. 34.500.000 (about US $ 14,375).
We are pleading officer DIRJEN BIMAS KRISTEN PROTESTAN to give your
kind attention to our needs to restore the building and buy new
bibles.
For the security enforcers, we hope that they can provide us with
protection
for us and our congregation.
This is our report and plea, and we thank you for your kind
attention. May the Lord forgives them. Amen.
Surabaya, June 10, 1996
Sincerely,
Firman Hayat (Living Word)
Pastor
Cc:
1. Department of Religious Affairs, Surabaya, East Java
2. Military Commander of Area 5, Brawijaya
3. Police Chief of East Java area
4. DPD GBI Chairman, Surabaya
5. Archive