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Mediation fruitless in Yogyakarta church office dispute
The case started when the agency issued a letter in January 2017 stating that it had not approved the classis' proposal for the building permit because of resistance from locals.
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A pedicab driver passes the iconic Yogyakarta Monument. (JP/Anggertimur Lanang Tinarbuko)
T
he Gunungkidul Investment and Integrated Service Agency in Yogyakarta has not issued a building permit (IMB) for the regional classis office of the Javanese Christian Churches (GKJ) in Grogol I village, Bejiharjo, Gunungkidul regency, amid protests from residents despite a 2018 court ruling that supported the office’s establishment.
“We cannot see it as black and white. We will issue the permit when there are no more refusals from residents,” agency head Irawan Jatmiko told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The Gunungkidul regency administration and the local Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKUB) conducted a mediation session, which included the Grogol 1 villagers and the executive body of the Gunungkidul classis, at the regency hall on Tuesday. However, no agreement was made between the two parties.
Village chief Agung Waluyo, who joined the mediation session with several residents, said they had not changed their minds.
“We continue to refuse the establishment of the office,” he said after the meeting.
The dispute started when the agency issued a letter in January 2017 stating that it had not approved the classis' proposal for the building permit because of resistance from locals.
The church regional office initially planned to conduct a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2016, but it was cancelled due to the permit rejection.
