GKI Yasmin to celebrate Christmas despite objection

The Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI Yasmin) congregation agreed to hold a Christmas service at their beleaguered church on Jl. KH. Abdullah bin Nuh at 8 a.m. despite an objection from the Bogor city administration.

“In a special coordination meeting at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs on Thursday, nobody talked about the relocation of our place of worship,” GKI Yasmin congregation spokesman Bona Singgalinging said on Friday as quoted by tempo.co.

The meeting even concluded that the congregation’s Christmas service should be protected.

The congregation has been unable to conduct regular church services for more than two years since Bogor city administration revoked a church building permit it had previously approved.

In reviewing the case, the Supreme Court ruled against the Bogor city administration, ordering it to reopen the church, yet Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto remains defiant.

The Indonesian Ombudsman’s office also recommended that the Bogor city administration revoke its 2011 decree, which annulled the church’s construction permit.

The Bogor City Police operations chief, Comr. Syahroni, said he would prepare extra security personnel prior to and during Christmas celebrations.

“There are 54 churches in Bogor that would be guarded. We will deploy a 700-person joint team in GKI Yasmin,” he said.

Meanwhile Diani said the city administration would not tolerate the GKI Yasmin congregation religious service on Jl. KH. Abdullah bin Nuh.

“We will not question Christians who want to celebrate Christmas as long as [they do it] at the right place,” he said.

He said he the city administration would accommodate the GKI Yasmin congregation’s desire to celebrate Christmas by providing another venue, such as the Harmoni Building, Yasmin Center.