Mayor Bima Arya Hands Over GKI Yasmin IMB Directly, Ensures Christians Can Worship Comfortably

BOGOR - The Bogor City Government submitted a building permit (IMB) document for the construction of a house of worship for the Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) on Jalan R. Abdullah bin Nuh, Yasmin, Bogor City, West Java. The GKI polemic has been going on for 15 years.

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya handed over the IMB document to the GKI manager at the Bogor City Court at the location of the planned construction of a GKI house of worship, R. Abdullah bin Nuh street, West Bogor District, Bogor City, Sunday, August 8.

Present at the event, among others, were Danrem 061/Suryakancana Brigadier General Achmad Fauzi, Dandim 0606 Bogor City Colonel Inf. Roby Bulan, Head of Bogor City Police, Grand Commissioner Pol. Susatyo Purnomo Condro, Head of Bogor City Herry Hermanus Horo, and leaders of religious organizations.

Bima Arya in his speech said that the handover of the IMB for the construction of the GKI house of worship in West Bogor District was part of a very long process that lasted for about 15 years.

"The IMB document submitted is not only a symbol of legitimacy, but it is a symbol of togetherness, and the result of the hard work of all parties in building commitment and establishing diversity, through dialogue, legal processes, mediation, deliberation, all of which culminate in the issuance of the IMB," he said. Bima is quoted from Antara.

The issuance of the GKI IMB, according to him, was not obtained for free, but through a long struggle and process so that all parties must be able to maintain and care for diversity in the city of Bogor. Community life in this city is a life of harmony and peace, respecting togetherness in diversity.

"The spirit of community life we must maintain and care for together," he said.

According to Bima, the IMB GKI document must be part of a joint effort to strengthen diversity and respect freedom of worship for people of all religions recognized by the state.

On that occasion, Bima Arya also emphasized that the local municipal government would always oversee the construction of the church house of worship with local residents.

The city government will also turn off the GKI Yasmin congregation so that they can worship in peace and comfort.

"The Bogor City Government will oversee together with the residents, not only on the construction of a church house of worship in this location but after the building is completed, it is necessary to ensure that later church congregations can worship comfortably and peacefully in this place," he said.