Indonesia probes Christians' attack on Muslims in Papua

Indonesian police are investigating an incident in Tolikara of Papua when a violent mob from Christian congregation disturbed a Muslim rite of Eid-el Fitr prayer on Friday, leaving one killed and 12 others injured, a minister said here on Monday.

Indonesian Security Chief Minister Tedjo Purdijatno said a meeting involving Police Chief General Badrodin Haiti, State Intelligent Chief Sutiyoso and representatives of armed forces as well as Religious Minister Lukman Hakim, has been held.

Minister Tedjo said that the investigation aimed to find out the mastermind and perpetrators of the incident, during which the mass also burned down a small mosque.

"It is impossible the mass just did the violence. I think at the beginning it started as a rally, and there must be a coordinator of it. It is impossible the incident happened without someone triggering it," he said at security chief ministry.

Currently the situation at Tolikara is back to normal, still security guards are in place in anticipation of a repeat of such violence, Minister Tedjo said.

Minister Tedjo revealed that there is no ban to perform religious services, including a prohibition to Muslims from performing Eid el-Fitr prayer.

Church in the district has denied having issued a letter that ban Muslims from performing the prayer, said Tedjo.

A police spokesman had said that the incident was incited by a letter spread by local Christian leaders in Papua's Tolikara Regency last week, calling on Muslims not to perform the Eid el- Fitr prayer near where Christians were to attend a seminar.

On Friday morning, the Muslims, however, went ahead with the prayer.

The minister said there might be a certain party which issued the letter for provocation.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim country, but Papua and most of its provinces in the eastern part of the country are largely inhabited by Christian communities. Endi