Hans David Tampubolon, Jakarta – More political parties are distancing themselves from Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarjo for his intransingence over the Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) issue and have started a motion that could result in his ouster.
Following the lead from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) last week, which annuled its support for Diani, the central board of the Golkar Party said it has instructed the party's Bogor branch to take all necessary constitutional means to settle the GKI Yasmin saga.
A member of the Golkar Party's central board, Ade Komarudin, said that the party branch could start by launching an interpellation motion against Diani, to find an amicable solution to the GKI Yasmin issue.
On Monday, Golkar Party lawmaker Nusron Wahid said that Golkar would throw its weight behind any effort to force Diani to comply with the Supreme Court's ruling to reopen GKI Yasmin.
"The mayor must comply with the ruling. He should not continue this mind game of his. It is our duty to make sure that everybody in this country uphold the 'unity in diversity' principles," said Nusron, who is also chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing, GP Anshor.
PDI-P's Bogor branch chairman, Maruarar Sirait, said Golkar's move would be indispensable in launching a move to interpellate Diani.
"However, we need more support as we require more than 50 percent of the seats at the council before we can go ahead with the move. We hope the Democratic Party will join us in this effort," Maruarar said.
Contacted separately, Ruhut Sitompul, a lawmaker with the Democratic Party said his party would also instruct its councillors at the Bogor Legislative Council to join the efforts in launching the interpellation.
"We should work together to elimite human rights violations, especially those against religious freedoms. This mayor must be ousted."
GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said that he praised the political parties' commitment to support GKI Yasmin's fight.
"We hope that the parties will be able to translate the commitment into concrete action," Bona said. "We also hope that the interpellation, when it takes place, will not become another political show."