Groups to sue for refusal to reinstate church license

BOGOR, Indonesia — The Bogor mayor’s refusal to obey a Supreme Court order to restore a congregation’s permit casts doubt on the ability of the Indonesian government to enforce the rule of law, according to a leading rights group.

Muslim demonstrators and area police have continued to obstruct the services of the Indonesian Christian Church (ICC) congregation in the Yasmin area of Bogor, West Java, which is worshiping on a roadside or in a member’s home as the Bogor city government sealed its building last year. Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto also rejected the July 8 recommendation of the National Ombudsman Institute to reinstate the permit, leaving the congregation to worship on a small strip of land as 15 to 20 Muslim demonstrators taunt them.

“Defiance of the Supreme Court decision and the recommendation of the Judicial Commission is clear evidence of denial of the rule of law,” said Bonar Tigor Naipospos, vice chairman of the Setara Institute for Democracy and Peace. Far from complying with the court order, the head of the Bogor civil service police, Bambang Budianto, reported that the ICC Yasmin church building is going to be torn down, according to the Bogorplus website.