Theresia Sufa, Jakarta – President of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Rev. Soritua A.E Nababan was barred from entering the beleaguered GKI Taman Yasmin church in Bogor, West Java, on Sunday, his passage blocked by security personnel and members of an Islamic hardliner group.

Personnel from the Bogor police and the Public Order Office were joined by members of the Islamic Reform Movement (Garis) and the Indonesian Muslim Communication Forum (Forkami) in cordoning off the church, located on Jl. K.H. Muhammad bin Nuh.

"As an Indonesian citizen, I feel ashamed with this blockade. There are so many police officers here as if they don't have more important things to do," Soritua told The Jakarta Post.

Soritua condemned the blockade and said that his visit to GKI Yasmin was a show of solidarity to members of the congregation. "I pay them a visit to encourage them in their struggle and to remind them not to use violence in resolving this problem," he said.

GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said that Soritua's visit could not be deemed illegal as his organization had notified the Bogor administration and the local police.

A Garis leader, Dede Triswandar said that the blockade was a show of solidarity to Muslims living near the church. "We will not hesitate to take violent action because the Supreme Court's ruling is wrong," he said. Dede said that the Supreme Court could have taken an ill-advised decision. "The court is full of infidels," he added.

Soritua was not the first WCC leader to visit GKI Yasmin. WCC moderator Walter Altman paid a short visit to the church in October, when he was allowed to access the church's compound.

Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto has consistently refused to reopen the church, which has been sealed since 2008. Diani based his decision on the allegation that the church had no legal building permit. (lfr)