New Milestone in Permit Settlement

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Stakes on the Bogor City Government asset land that was granted for the construction of GKI Yasmin in West Cilendek, West Bogor, Bogor City, West Java, Sunday (13/6/2021).

BOGOR, KOMPAS — The Bogor administration, West Java, has given the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Pengadilan in Bogor a land grant. This marks the conclusion of a 15-year brouhaha surrounding a construction permit for a place of worship, the GKI Yasmin.

The handover, which is for an area of 1,668 square meters, was conducted by Bogor Mayor Bima Arya, who symbolically presented the grant to the chairperson of the GKI Pengadilan Congregational Council, Krisdianto, on Sunday (13/6/2021). The signing of the land grant was carried out at the GKI Pengadilan Secretariat Office on Jl. Pengadilan No. 35, Pabaton subdistrict, Bogor.

Also witnessing the signing and handover were, among others, Bogor Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Mustofa Abdullah bin Nuh, Bogor Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB) head Hasbullah, Korem 061/Suryakencana Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Achmad Fauzi, Bogor Police chief Comr. Susatyo Purnomo Condro, Kodim 0606/Bogor Military Command head Col. (Inf) Roby Bulan and Team 7.

We prioritize brotherhood, peace and the culture of local wisdom as a solution to even complex problems.

“Fifteen years of this long journey proves that there is no problem that cannot be resolved when dialogue is maintained by all parties. We prioritize brotherhood, peace and the culture of local wisdom as a solution to even complex problems," said Bima.

After the handover, the Bogor administration expressed its commitment to overseeing the completion of the building permit (IMB), the stages of development and later, worship activities.

The land is located about 1 kilometer from the area on which the church was originally going to be built and the permit for which was caught in a dispute for 15 years.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

One of the corners of the Bogor City Government\'s asset land which was donated for the construction of GKI Yasmin in West Cilendek, West Bogor, Bogor City, West Java, Sunday (13/6/2021). Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto handed over proof of the Bogor City Government land grant to be built into the Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI).

The controversy began when the Bogor administration issued an IMB for the construction of a house of worship on behalf of GKI Pengadilan on Jalan KH Abdullah bin Nuh No. 31, Curug Mekar, West Bogor, Bogor. It was dubbed GKI Yasmin because it is located in the Taman Yasmin residential area.

The mayor of Bogor at that time, Dani Budiarto, suspended the permit following the rejection of some residents and a criminal case, namely alleged manipulation of residents’ approval (of the church development). The furor continued until the case was brought to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court\'s ruling in 2010 did not immediately solve the problem because what happened next was a decision to revoke the permit in 2011.

Today is proof of the Bogor administration\'s commitment to ensuring the right to worship for all citizens, without exception.

The protracted problem received a silver lining when Bima and Team 7, formed by the GKI Synod Council Working Body, approached residents and a number of religious leaders. People living around the land agreed to the construction of a place of worship and the land grant could be processed further.

“Today is proof of the Bogor administration\'s commitment to ensuring the right to worship for all citizens, without exception. Today is proof that the state is here to guarantee the rights and the realization of the city administration\'s promise to complete the need for houses of worship for our GKI Pengadilan brothers in the spirit of fulfilling people’s rights in harmony and peace," said Bima.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto (left) and Head of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Congregational Council of the Bogor Court Krisdianto (right) show a file for the Bogor City Government\'s land grant for GKI Yasmin at the courtyard of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) on Jalan Court, Bogor City , West Java, Sunday (13/6/2021).

Appreciation

Krisdianto appreciated the steps taken by the Bogor administration and the support and sincerity of all institutions, religious leaders and residents.

"This is a tangible manifestation of the residents of Bogor being very tolerant and respectful of each other, especially in carrying out their worship," he said.

Meanwhile, Hasbullah said the Bogor administration\'s move to provide land grants for the construction of houses of worship was a solution for the protection of the rights of citizens to worship.

Separately, the commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), Beka Ulung Hapsara, also appreciated the decision of the Bogor administration to provide land grants to the GKI congregation in Bogor. He said this step showed the presence of the state to fulfill the constitutional rights of citizens, namely the right to worship. The decision was also a solution to the years-long stalemate.

This is a tangible manifestation of the residents of Bogor being very tolerant and respectful of each other, especially in carrying out their worship.

According to Beka, for Komnas HAM, the most important thing is that the government can fulfill the constitutional rights of citizens, especially the right to worship. To fulfill this right, the Bogor administration chose the option of granting its land.

"This is a step forward from the chaos of the GKI permit issue," he said.

He hopes that the solution will not lead to new conflicts. Moreover, the decision was a joint decision that involved representatives from GKI.

“One stage has been passed [thanks to the] solution from the Bogor administration. Now, it\'s just a matter of how to ensure that the mayor of Bogor is consistent with what has been planned, so that new legal problems do not arise," said Beka.