Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Up to 100 residents accompanied by masses from the West Java Islam Reform Movement (Garis) staged a rally at Jiwanaya kampong, Cimenyan district, Bandung regency, on Friday demanding religious activities routinely held in the area stop.

The people gathered after the Friday prayer to warn caretakers of St Melania Church and Alms Foundation, whom they alleged to have conducted religious activities at a building which has illegally been altered into a church.

Ahmad Basir, one of the residents, disclosed that local people were suspicious of a rising number of people flock to the building, which is not licensed as a church.

"We have never given approval for the establishment of a church here, but there are many people asking the address of its location," Ahmad said after joining the rally.

Activists of Garis, who have founded a 10-member team, went to the building, which was established on a 1-hectare plot of land belonging to the church foundation.

They held negotiations with caretakers of the foundation, while other protesters consisting mostly of housewives unfurled protesting banners outside the building's gate. One of the banners read: "Don't ever do apostasy in Jiwanaya", while the other: "Head of St. Melania Foundation Antonius Julistiana has publicly lied and betrayed Jiwanaya Muslims."

The rally was guarded by dozens of officers from the Cimenyan Police and one of them was seen bringing with him a rifle.

Agus Sulaiman, one of the 10-member team, said that in line with the permit issued by the Bandung regental administration on Feb. 24, 2009, the building was designed purely for residential purposes.

"We want to get assurance that the license of the building is not misused," said Agus, adding that there had allegedly local residents were given money when the building was constructed.

Father Rusbani Setiawan of St. Melania Church, who lives at the building, gave clarification that the residents' unrest was baseless. The man, who was popularly known as Romo (Father) Iwan said that he had received a letter consisting of three demands two weeks earlier.

"The three demands consist of one not to alter the building into a church, not to conduct apostasy and alter the function of the building for other purposes," he said.

Romo Iwan said that he fully agreed with the demands because after the construction of the building in 2009, there had been an agreement with the police to continue to be on the legal track.

"If in line with the law the permit is for a residential house that's it... I live here. If there is an indication of misuse, we are open to receive criticism. Feel free to come and check the activities here," he said.

Commenting on alleged apostasy activities through the distribution of cash, Romo Iwan said he knew nothing about it. "I'm a newcomer here. I don't know what is meant by the distribution of cash and during my stay here I never give money to anybody," Romo Iwan said.

Cimenyan Police chief Adj. Comr. Suhari explained that the officers' presence was intended to help ensure a peaceful rally. "We consider the agreement shows a peaceful solution for existing conflict," Suhari said.

Data from the Religious Freedom Advocation and Monitoring Network showed there were 182 human right violations in various regions throughout West Java in the period between 2000 and 2008. Up to 69 of the violation cases dealt with the prohibition of religious rituals and 29 others with the destruction of places of worship.