Government ensures that the problem of sealing the church in Teluknaga Tangerang has been resolved

JAKARTA - Human Rights Minister (HAM) Natalius Pigai said that the house of worship of the Persekutuan Oikoumene Umat Kristen (POUK) Thessalonica congregation in Teluknaga, Tangerang, Banten, which had been sealed a few days ago had been reopened.

Pigai, during a working meeting with Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, said the opening of the seal was carried out after coordination by various parties, including the Banten Regional Office of the Ministry of Human Rights.

"The Ministry of Human Rights has paid attention to the case. The Banten regional office, after coordinating with various groups, has opened the seal," said the Minister of Human Rights, quoted by Antara.

Thus, according to him, the controversy is over. "We have done our best and have opened the seal on the Thessalonian congregation in Banten. It's over. If that's over," he said.

Initially in the meeting, Member of Commission XIII of the Indonesian House of Representatives Edison Sitorus had touched on the controversy over the sealing of the POUK Thessaloniki congregation place of worship in Teluknaga, Tangerang, Banten.

"In Tangerang, Mr. Minister, there was a sealing of the POUK congregation in Teluknaga District on April 3 after the implementation of the Friday Great Prayer; that there was a sealing of the place of worship by the Police Pamong Praja," said Edison.

According to him, this incident has violated the human rights of Christians.

"This is asking the Minister, what is his response to this incident and its solutions? I am frankly a Muslim, but when people of other religions have no freedom of religion, I think this is a violation of human rights," he continued.

It is known that the sealing of the POUK Thessaloniki congregation place of worship in Tangerang occurred on Friday, April 3 after the implementation of the Friday Great Lent. The sealing was allegedly carried out due to building licensing problems.

This action was condemned by the Federation of Churches in Indonesia (PGI).

In its statement of position, PGI understands the importance of compliance with regulations, including building permits. However, PGI considers that enforcement of rules should not be carried out at the expense of the basic rights of citizens.

"This incident hurts the feelings of Christians who are entering the Easter celebration and injures the nation's commitment to freedom of religion and worship as guaranteed in the 1945 Constitution, especially Article 28E and Article 29," said PGI Executive Secretary for Justice and Peace Etika Saragih.