Novia D. Rulistia, Jakarta – Dozens of members of the congregation of the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) from Greater Jakarta staged a protest Sunday by performing a symbolic Sunday service on the sidewalk in front of the State Palace.
Members of the congregation are frustrated by the persecution they face at the hands of the city administration in Bogor and called on the central government to intervene.
GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said the church urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to put pressure on the Bogor administration to comply with a Supreme Court ruling upholding the legality of the church. "We're here to urge the state to protect our basic rights to practice our faith," he said.
The two-hour rally began at 1 p.m. and transpired without incident. Protesters gathered at one corner of the National Monument Square in front of the State Palace. Under a scorching sun, members of the congregation were led in prayer by GKI Yasmin priest Ujang Tanu Saputra.
Members of the wider GKI congregation said taking part in the rally was a symbol of their support for the long campaign against the injustice of the Bogor administration.
"We're here to show our support for GKI Yasmin. With this rally, we want the government to know that freedom of worship remains an unfinished business in this country," Edi Panatas from GKI Cipinang Indah in East Jakarta said.
Also present at the rally was the president of the World's Council of Churches, Albert Nababan. He said the rally was indicative of GKI Yasmin's determination to fight against discrimination and threats to their freedom of worship.
"They're here to show their faith in God and I want them to keep fighting for their constitutionally guaranteed right," Albert said.
Bondan Goenawan, former state secretary in the administration of late president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, was also present. He said he backed the protesters because he believed the Constitution was being violated.
In 2008, the Bogor administration, led by Mayor Diani Budiarto, revoked the church's building permit citing complaints from residents who claimed the church was a hub for proselytizing in the Muslim-majority city.
On Jan. 13, church lawyers received a copy of a Supreme Court ruling overturning the administration's request to uphold a lower court decision to shut down the church.
The verdict only came to light after church lawyers and Bogor administration secretary Bambang Gunawan came to the Supreme Court to obtain a copy of the ruling.
Despite the ruling, the congregation remains locked out of their church, which was cordoned off by the police and public order officers.
The Bogor administration claims it would not reopen the church because it had not received a copy of the Supreme Court ruling. However, soon after receiving copies of the verdict, the administration issued a building permit for the church before revoking it again.
GKI Yasmin has filed a request to the Supreme Court to issue a ruling to annul the administration's latest decision to revoke the building permit.