Bambang Muryanto, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta – A group of people representing the Gunungkidul Muslim Youth Forum, the Yogyakarta Islamic Congregation Forum (FUI) and local residents have urged the Gunungkidul regency administration in Yogyakarta to immediately demolish the Cave of Mary religious shrine in Sampang subdistrict, Gedangsari, citing the long-standing public protest against the use of the venue as a place of worship.
Speaking in an open dialogue with local government representatives at the Gunungkidul regency administration's headquarters on Thursday, members of the groups said that they would jointly tear down the Catholic shrine should the local administration fail to follow up on their objection to it.
"The government should have dismantled the shrine a long time ago as it has caused public unrest," said Suparman, a Sampang resident.
Thursday's one-hour meeting between members of the groups and the local administration became tense as protesters kept yelling and repeatedly rapped the desk as local government officials, including regency assistant Tomy Harahap, Gunungkidul Religious Office official Mukholib and local Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB) member Iskamto, delivered their statements.
The protesters repeatedly said they were disappointed because the government failed to immediately close the religious shrine that they have been opposing since 2012. They also threatened to dismantle the shrine, as it is still being used as a palace of worship despite the local government's decision to temporarily close the venue.
"Within three days, the government must give a firm answer as a response to our objection. They must stop all religious activities at the Cave of Mary," FUI lawyer Achmad Deva Permana said.
The shrine, which also serves as a religious tourist attraction, was established in 2010 despite the absence of a proper permit from the local administration, the protesters claimed.
During the meeting, local official Tomy Harahap, who also serves as the regency's spokesperson, explained to the protesters that the local administration was still processing the permit for the religious shrine.
"The government cannot act one-sidedly. I know some are in favor and others are against the presence of the shrine. We, however, we must seek a permanent solution to the matter," he said.
Tomy's answer, however, triggered a greater rage among the protesters. The accused the local administration of persuading members of the Muslim community in the subdistrict to support the construction of the shrine.
Despite the mounting pressure, Tomy insisted that the local administration would not tear down the shrine before coordinating the matter with other relevant agencies. He also said that a final decision on the matter would need approval from the regent. "I will resolve the issue in accordance with the existing laws," Tomy said.
Contacted separately, Friends of Freedom of Religion and Association (Sobat KBB) activist Agnes Dwi Rusjiyati said the dispute regarding the status of the shrine was quite complicated, as the Gunungkidul regency had no specific bylaws that rule on the establishment of religious tourist sites. "Perhaps the building permit [for the shrine] must be made together with one for the establishment of the chapel at the venue," Agnes said.