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Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, chairman of Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, the 30 million strong Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), traveled to Situbondo 10 days after the burnings to meet with local Christian leaders and issue an apology, as most of the rioters were members of his organization. He called on people of all faiths to assist the Christians in rebuilding their churches. Local government officials in Situbondo also offered Protestants and Catholics the use of a government building for worship while they rebuild.
Mr. Wahid also met with Indonesian President Suharto to discuss the implications of the religious rioting. Suharto was quoted in the daily Republika as saying, "In the midst of our diversity, we must maintain our unity."
The riots were sparked by the blasphemy trial of a Muslim leader in Situbondo, who was given only five years in jail instead of the death penalty, as a large crowd gathered around the courthouse had hoped. They proceeded to fan out in formation and ended up burning and vandalizing 25 Christian churches in the area. A Pentecostal pastor and his family were burned to death on their church premises.
No one is pretending the riots were spontaneously generated by the verdict. Amien Rais, head of the 28 million strong Muhammidiyah Islamic Group, stated the day after the riots, "The way it happened was so systematic, so organized--it was inspired and directed by a certain group of people." And Armed Forces chief Lieutenant-General Syarwan Hamid, after interrogating some of the 40 rioters detained, confirmed the rioting was premeditated.
Indonesia's Christians held a Day of Prayer and Fasting on Sunday, October 27, calling on all 22 million Christians to pray for the families affected by the incident, the local believers who still experience anxiety and fear, and for God to guide the government and military in handling the problem.