E/CN.4/2006/5/Add.1 Page 40 Communication sent on 26 July 2005 152. The Special Rapporteur brought to the attention of the Government the situation of Ms. Rebecca Laonita, Ms. Ratna Mala Bangun and Ms. Ety Pangesti who organized and conducted a children’s holiday camp, called ‘Happy Week’ in Haurgelis, West Java. The camp's programme consisted of opening and closing prayers, singing songs, practical tutoring in reading, writing and mathematics and trips to parks and swimming pools. The camp was organised for local Christian children but Muslim children were invited to attend if their parents consented. 153. At the beginning of May 2005, the Indonesian Council of Muslim Clerics (MUI) brought a case against the three women alleging that they tried to convert the children to Christianity by giving them gifts. On 13 May 2005, the women were arrested and had since then been held in Indramayu Prison. Urgent appeal sent on 7 November 2005 154. On 16 October 2005, the congregations of three churches, including a Lutheran, a Presbyterian and a Pentecostal church, were prevented from holding a joint outdoor service in Jatimulya, East Bekasi, West Java in Indonesia. The congregations gathered to hold the service but were prevented from doing so by approximately 300 Muslims who had gathered in the same place to conduct their own service. The members of the three churches accordingly moved elsewhere to carry out their service. However, the group followed them and verbally abused them until the congregations were forced to disperse. The police officers who were present did not reportedly intervene. The Mayor of East Bekasi closed down three churches five weeks before. Following the closures, the congregations had been gathering regularly to hold outdoor services. The Special Rapporteur was concerned that similar events could occur at future services held by the congregations of the three churches. Response from the Government dated 12 December 2005 155. The Government gave a number of clarifications. In particular it informed the Special Rapporteur that some 200 police officers were present at the incident and did intervene to separate the two groups. 156. The Joint Decision of the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Minister of Internal Affairs of 1969 requires adherents of any religious denomination to secure permission from neighbouring residents if they want to build a place of worship. In accordance with the Joint Decision, the three churches requested the necessary authorizations and pending the conclusion of the administrative processes, they used one of the residential houses in Jati Mulya as a place of worship. 157. The local residents did not approve and consequently sealed the house, claiming that the Regent of Bekasi had forbidden the use of residential houses for public worship in accordance with the relevant legislation. After the closure of the house, the three groups decided to hold their services in the street in the Jati Mulya compound, which led to the incident referred to in the letter of 7 November 2005.