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Yasmin says tension escalating

The embattled GKI Taman Yasmin church in Bogor, south of Jakarta, claimed on Thursday that its parishioners had experienced escalating intimidation and threats from detractors since Christmas

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta
Fri, January 13, 2012

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Yasmin says tension escalating

T

he embattled GKI Taman Yasmin church in Bogor, south of Jakarta, claimed on Thursday that its parishioners had experienced escalating intimidation and threats from detractors since Christmas.

The church reiterated its demand for President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono to walk the walk after saying “they [GKI Yasmin] have a right to their church” and protect the worshippers.

During a joint press conference at the Wahid Institute, an organization founded by the late pluralist and former president Abdurrahman Wahid, GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said that Islamic hard-liners had stepped up their threats.

“They used to deliver hate-filled words against us. Now they are brave enough to threaten our property,” Bona said.

Bona recalled the last incident on Jan. 1 when a group of detractors chased a worshipper’s car and threatened to set it on fire because it had a sticker reading “We need friendly Islam, not extreme Islam” on it. “Even a small thing can inflame the tension,” he said.

Bona also said the detractors frequently threatened to beat up the parishioners but were prevented from doing so by police officers.

“Police officers can prevent such actions now, but how long can they keep it that way?” he quipped.

The congregation was stopped from conducting Christmas service inside the church building, and even on the street near the church. The church members have been prohibited from conducting religious
activities for more than two years.

As the tension heated up, Bona said that the President should firmly instruct Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto to obey the Supreme Court’s December 2010 ruling that guarantees the church’s right to use its the building.

M. Subhi Azhari, the Wahid Institute’s Pluralism Monitoring and Advocacy program officer, said his organization had seen the increasing intimidation against the church’s members.

“The increasing intimidation against the church’s members is no exaggeration. As we don’t see good intention on the part of the city government in resolving the problem, we should rely on the central government’s initiative,” he said.

Muhammad Choirul Anam from the Human Rights Working Group said that the police should have not allowed the detractors to approach the church.

“The police have seen that the detractors can violate the church members as well as their property,” he said.

Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation director Nurkholis Hidayat said the officers could have detained the
detractors for inciting hatred. “It is allowed under the prevailing law,” he said. (lfr)

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