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PDI-P to quiz Bogor mayor over church

Source
Jakarta Globe - November 8, 2011

Vento Saudale, Bogor – One of Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto's former political allies will question him and his administration over the Supreme Court-defying decision to shut the GKI Yasmin Church.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) were one of several parties who supported the unaligned Diani in his bid to become mayor, but Untung W. Maryono, the chairman of the party's Bogor chapter, on Monday accused him of mocking the rule of law by refusing to reopen the church. "In his disobedience of the law, I see indications of defiance on the part of the mayor against keeping religious harmony," Untung said.

PDI-P Bogor secretary Slamet Wijaya said it was time the party took advantage of its right to interpellation. The PDI-P has six seats at the Bogor city council, one vote short of the number necessary to launch a formal inquiry. "We will quickly reach out to our coalition partners so we can exercise these interpellation rights," he said.

PDI-P, Untung said, had withdrawn its support for the mayor in September, following orders from the party's central board. It was a strong vote of no-confidence for Diani, whose reelection in 2008 was made possible by the political backing of seven parties – including PDI-P and Golkar.

"Diani has committed an ideological violation," the chairman said. "The PDI-P has consistently fought for our independence proclamation dreams based on the Pancasila, the Constitution and the Unity in Diversity [motto]."

The Bogor chapter of the Golkar party, however, said that the party would continue to support Diani's administration until his term ends in 2013. "We will support the mayor until the end. We will decline our right to interpellation," said the secretary of Golkar's Bogor chapter, Heri Cahyono.

Heri said that Golkar Regional Representative Council (DPRD) member Ade Komarudin had been "speaking as an individual" and not representing Golkar when he earlier said the party should no longer support Diani.

"We think the way the GKI [dispute] has been handled is proportional. Diani had proposed relocation and compensation," he said. Diani's decision to revoke the church's permit, he said, was made to ensure security amid claims the community was against the construction.

The Supreme Court reversed Diani's decision earlier this year, ordering the city to reopen the church. Diani, however, argued that after the court had ordered the first decision annulled, he had issued another letter renewing church's closing. The second letter is now contested in court.

Yasmin's congregation has been holding prayers on the sidewalk in front of the church. But the peaceful act of protest has occasionally been subject to violent crackdowns by police and public order officers.

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