Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saefuddin has called on the South Jakarta municipality to help the congregation of the Batak Karo Protestant Church (GBKP) find a new location for their house of worship following the closure of GBKP in Tanjung Barat, Pasar Minggu.
"Differences in opinion between the parties should not result in [further conflict] and there should be a sense of looking for a concrete solution. This is where [the South Jakarta] municipality should play its role," Lukman told journalists on Thursday.
The closure followed a letter issued by South Jakarta Mayor Tri Kurniadi. Tri claimed the church did not possess the proper building permit license for a house of worship. The closure of the church was largely the result of protests from local residents.
Lukman said he wanted the GBKP congregation and neighboring residents to understand and tolerate one another so that both sides could look for a win-win solution and the congregation could continue to worship while the building permit was being processed.
Should the congregation and neighboring residents fail to agree, the municipality has a responsibility to assist the GBKP congregation as stipulated in the existing regulation.
In his letter addressed to the church, Tri said the GBKP management had the chance to file for the proper building permit until Sept. 26, but had failed to meet the deadline.
However, Pastor Penrad Siagian said the church had tried to file the requisite documents, but the Tanjung Barat subdistrict office had been unresponsive.