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Two Days Before Christmas, No Place for GKI Yasmin
Dion Bisara & Camelia Pasandaran | December 23, 2011

The GKI Yasmin church has been officially sealed by authorities. (JG Photo) The GKI Yasmin church has been officially sealed by authorities. (JG Photo)
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DrDez
12:13pm Dec 26, 2011

Kesiangan

Likewise impressed by the Balinese & likewise cannot fear where this is leading us. Look to the ME and one perhaps has an idea - silence among the elite again

Kesiangan
6:58pm Dec 24, 2011

@DD. I am impressed as well. Just as impressed as when the Balinese didn't turn against the Javanese after the 2002 Bali bomb. It is a matter of wisdom. On the other hand, however, minorities don't have much of a choice. David only defeats Goliath in a book and some films.

The gap between Muslims and non-Muslims is widening and the wider that gap, the closer the country comes to disintegration.

The vast majority of moderate, level-headed Muslims, therefore, should awake from their enchanted slumber and stop their radical brothers once and for all.

DrDez
10:16am Dec 24, 2011

I am it must be said totally and utterly impressed by the Christians response in Indonesia to violent attacks - It is a great reflection on Indonesian Christians that they have retained both faith and a stance of peace - trusting to the rule of law that has so far let them down..

One wonders however how long that tolerance will last as the persecution net widens and becomes ever more virile


Kesiangan
9:10pm Dec 23, 2011

And the FPI is going to guarantee that they can have their service.


Valkyrie
8:50pm Dec 23, 2011

To the faithfuls at GKI Yasmin........"let your Light so shine before men......

Be strong my friends and act according to His will.

Christians (especially in this country) are aware that they will be persecuted for their beliefs.

No matter how long it will take...TRUTH will eventually be victorious.

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Bogor. While more than 2,000 years ago Mary could not find a proper place to deliver her baby, this year a church in Indonesia still has no place to celebrate Christmas.

“It will depend on the recommendation of the West Java police,” said Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi in Bogor on Friday. “It [the location] will probably be in a rented-venue [paid for] by the regional government.”

The GKI Yasmin church in Bogor has been in limbo because the central government has not taken a decisive stance as to whether or not the congregation can celebrate Christmas in its own church.

The church has a tense relationship with Bogor mayor, Diani Budiarto, who revoked the church’s building permit forcing them to worship on the street every Sunday.

Regardless the Supreme Court has ruled — and later strengthened with an edict — that the mayor should re-open the church. Despite the ruling, Bogor public order agency officers have been deployed from week to week to ban parishioners from entering the church.

The case made its way into international headlines finally forcing the government, who had previously declined to get involved in the case citing regional autonomy, to seek a solution.

Gamawan led several meetings trying to mediate between all parties including the Bogor government, the police and the church representative. He said that a long-term solution would be reached after the New Year.

But even for the short term, Gamawan still has no clue whether the congregation will be allowed to celebrate Christmas in its own church.

“It is still being observed and analyzed,” he said. “Hopefully, there will be decision today (Friday). The most important things are security and problem prevention.”

Bona Sigalingging, the church spokesman, told the Jakarta Globe that the regional government offered Yasmin a meeting hall as the site for its Christmas celebration this year. The church declined the offer.

“We disagree,” he said. “It is not a place to worship. Besides, the location is only 50 meters away from the church. It’s not really too different than celebrating in the church.”

The congregation members will go to the church on Sunday morning at 8 a.m.

“It’s up to them whether they’re going to let us in, or not, but we will go there.”