Danrindam XVII/Cenderawasih: The Issue Of Closing The Church In Jayapura Hoaks

Danrindam XVII/Cenderawasih Brigadier General Endra Saputra Kusuma/ANTARA/Agustina Estevani Janggo)

JAKARTA - Commander of Rindam (Danrindam) XVII/Cenderawasih in Jayapura Regency, Papua, Brigadier General Endra Saputra Kusuma confirmed that the video of closing or demolition of churches in the local environment spread through social media is a hoax.

Danrindam XVII/Cenderawasih Brigadier General Endra Saputra Kusuma said the circulation of videos on social media that were led to the issue of demolition and closing the church was actually not true.

"I purely want to know the clarity of the church buildings in the randam environment, who is building it, whose land is it, whether it is the right of the community or randam, because this is related to commerce," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 17.

According to Endra, he only wanted to confirm the status of the church building, especially regarding the land and legality of the building. There was no other intention whatsoever.

"Every development must be accompanied by a permit, including reports related to Non-Tax State Revenue (PNBP). Therefore, we asked for the completeness of the letter to circumcise the church and the pastori's house," he said.

He explained, of the three church buildings located in the Rindam area, only one recorded an area of 190 square meters. His party only wanted to know the clarity of the status of the land at the location where the church was built.

"If the land where the church building belongs to the community then I will not approach it, but if the land is dazed, a letter of land and building will be made, that's actually the only goal," he said.

He emphasized that his party had absolutely no intention of intimidating, closing the church or interfering in religious affairs, because the TNI strongly upholds the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and it is impossible to dissolve places of worship.

"I just want to know, purely as a new person. There is not a single word from me to close the church or tamper with religion," he said.