Police name Yasmin Church member a suspect over assault, disobedience

The West Java Police have named Jayadi Damanik, a member of the beleaguered GKI Taman Yasmin Protestant church congregation, a suspect in a clash last October between worshippers and Bogor public order officers.

Jayadi is expected to be questioned as a suspect the West Java Police headquarters tomorrow, according to a copy of the summons obtained by The Jakarta Post.

Police first named Jayadi a suspect on Jan. 24 following a report from Bambang Budianto, head of the Bogor Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), over what he described as a light assault and for going against an official’s order on Oct. 9 last year.

Church spokesman Bona Sigalingging questioned the actions of the police.

“Why did the police respond the officer’s report but ignore ours?” he said.

“This is becoming more unfair for us. We receive multiple discriminations, not only from the city administration and the religious hardliners but also from the police.”

The Bogor administration, which has cited problems with the church’s permit, has barred the congregation from conducting religious activities inside the church for more than two years, defying a 2010 Supreme Court ruling that guaranteed the congregation’s right to hold services at the church.(lfr/dic)