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Police Seek Dialogue To End Spat In Lombok
Fitri R | September 20, 2010

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Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara. Residents of Lombok’s main tourist area, Senggigi, have refused to settle a dispute with a German national whom they accuse of blaspheming Islam.

Senggigi Police Chief Adjutant Comr. Ni Made Pujiwati said residents had expressed no interest in rebuilding the villa owned by their German neighbor, Stephen Alexander.

Police said residents trashed Alexander’s villa and torched his motorcycle on Sept. 7 after accusing him of insulting Islam.

“I have attempted to get representatives of the village to come and have a sit down with [Alexander],” Pujiwati told the Jakarta Globe. “They have not bothered to respond. They also reject the idea of rebuilding the villa in Senggigi.

“The residents themselves, however, have not filed a blasphemy complaint with us.

“We are still investigating the case, but primarily we recommend both parties sit down and sort this out, so that security here is maintained.”

In early September, Alexander found statues in his garden in front of his villa smashed.

Pujiwati said Alexander, carrying the head of one of the statues, went to the village chief’s home and accused residents of damaging the statues.

The villagers had just finished tarawih , the evening prayers during Ramadan, and were insulted when Alexander demanded to know “what kind of Muslims they were,” Pujiwati said.

The enraged villagers allegedly chased Alexander into a nearby forest and trashed his villa and set fire to his motorcycle.

Pujiwati said that he would continue to try and persuade the villagers to engage in dialogue with Alexander. “He is in Lombok legally,” he said. “There are no issues with his immigration status whatsoever.”