Nearly 1,000 Students Face Eviction from Temporary Residence

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Indonesia (MNN) ? Nearly 1,000 Arastamar Bible school students faced eviction last week on Oct. 27 from their temporary residence in a West Jarkata mayor's office building, Voice of the Martyrs reported.

Since July 2008, staff and students of the Bible school had to seek temporary shelters all around the city after Muslim extremists attacked their school. Hundreds shouted "Allahu Akbar," meaning "God is greater," and threw Molotov cocktails at the school's buildings. Then, as students ran out of the burning buildings, the extremists attacked them with acid and machetes.

While living in their temporary residence, the High Court of West Jarkata issued them an eviction notice. The day before it was to be served, the local government turned off the electricity and water to their building.

This led to the student demonstrations in the streets.

"That day ... a thousand students were demonstrating outside of the building and making [a barricade with their bodies] to prevent the police troops, local government security troops, and High Court officials from going into the building and destroying it," VOM said.

When police stepped in to evict the students, they blocked the road, and riots ensued. VOM sources said the riots started when police threw stones at the students, and the students retaliated with plastic chairs and more stones.

"We were pulled in among the police; then they beat us. We had said, 'Don't beat us!' but they didn't care," said one of the students arrested by the police.

Since their plight began, VOM has offered support to these students, which included a visit from Tom White, VOM's Executive Director. He encouraged them to continue to stay strong in their faith.

Pray for continued encouragement and protection for these students.

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