Human Rights Commission Demands Jokowi to Handle GKI Yasmin Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human Rights Commission member Natalius Pigai requested President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to handle the issue on the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) Yasmin.  “Not only as imaging.  Does Jokowi consider the GKI Yasmin matter unimportant?” Natalius said on Tuesday, December 23.

According to Natalius, the issue on GKI Yasmin have involved humanity problem.  Jokowi needs to directly handle it due to the Supreme Court having issued a decision and gave GKI Yasmin authority to a build worshiping place on the disputed land.

Natalius also requested Jokowi to take firm action in order for the GKI Yasmin polemic to end.  Other than suppresing Jokowi, the National Human Rights Commission have also requested Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto to obey the law and execute the Supreme Court’s order.  “Bima Arya has no right to participate in refusing the activities of GKI Yasmin.  The government should facilitate its safety,” Natalius said.

Bima stated yesterday that the government has permanently sealed a GKI Yasmin building located in the area of Yasmin Park in the city of Bogor.  Therefore, services and Christmas could no longer be held in the church.  ”GKI Yasmin no longer exist,” Bima said.

Previously, the Supreme Court issued a ruling number 127/PK/TUN/2009 on December 9 2009 which GKI Yasmin won relating to the building establishment permit (IMB).  However, Bogor Mayor have currently issued a decree number 645.45-137 Year 2011 on revoking the building permit establishment of GKI Yasmin on March 11, 2011.  The reason was that there was a signature forgery of Munir Karta, who at the time was the Head of Neighborhood.

MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN