November 20, 2011
Bogor. The conflict over the GKI Yasmin church has dragged on for so long that West Bogor residents have formed a group and taken to the streets to urge that the case be settled.
The West Bogor Community Forum for Peace urged the government to get serious about resolving the dispute over the building of the church, and it also called on the Indonesian Muslim Communication Forum (Forkami) to halt their intimidation of the Yasmin congregation.
The coordinator of the demonstration, Asep Zulfikar, said Forkami’s involvement in the dispute had created the impression of conflict between two religions, rather than reflecting the real issue, which he said was purely an administrative one.
“It’s clear they [Forkami] are bringing Islam into it, so it looks like they’re opposing Christians,” he said, “even though what’s at stake is only a building license.”
According to Asep, Forkami’s demands did not make sense.
“The funny thing is, what they’re fighting for is wrong,” he said. “Even an untrained person such as myself knows the church has already been approved by the state [via the Supreme Court.] So it’s fair for someone like me to say that they’re just rogues who don’t want Bogor to be peaceful.”
On Sunday morning, there was a combative atmosphere at the GKI Yasmin church site on Jalan Abdullah bin Nuh. At 7 a.m., about 600 security officers from the police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and its public order squad (Satpol PP) as well as soldiers from the local Siliwangi army base, blocked off the road at both ends.
When the congregation arrived about half an hour later from the eastern end of the road, they were turned away for “security reasons,” while at the western end a Forkami group was making speeches and shouting “God is great.”
The newly formed peace-supporting contingent was also present, demanding the conflict be brought to a swift end.
Asep said they were dismayed at the tension and also the security that was deployed to keep the two sides apart.
“The GKI Yasmin church issue is not Bogor’s only problem; there are a lot of things that need attention. How much money is being spent here on security alone?” he said
Asep added that the peace forum approached Forkami to request a dialogue on the issue, but its offer was refused.
“We arrived in peace, to invite Forkami to a dialogue to solve the problem in order that the GKI Yasmin congregation be able to hold their weekly prayers,” he said, adding that he hoped to thereby to avoid violence.
“I don’t know what their reasons are, but they refused us, even though officials have already provided us with permission and a venue to conduct the dialogue.”
Asep, who is a member of the Bogor branch of grassroots Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said that the West Bogor Community Forum for Peace was comprised of members of various religions and Bogor community groups, implying that they were religiously neutral.
“This forum was established to let the public know that Islam isn’t just Forkami,” Asep said.
“As law-abiding citizens, they [Forkami] should respect the decision of the Supreme Court and the recommendation of the Ombudsman’s office.”
Earlier in the week, the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) responded to the deadlock in Bogor by requesting four government agencies work together to investigate the issue.
The head of the MUI, Ma’ruf Amin, said on Tuesday that the council wanted to support efforts to maintain inter-religious harmony.
“We are going to send a recommendation letter as soon as possible,” Ma’ruf said.
Later in the week, Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi chimed in, urging Bogor’s mayor, Diani Budiarto, to sit down with the GKI Yasmin church leaders.
“Find a point of agreement. This problem should not be politicized, it should be solved. It is a licensing issue,” he said on Friday.
(x the JG)
zo 20 nov 2011 - 16:45