Bandung Mayor Regrets Intimidation Against Christian Worshippers
7 December 2016 16:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Bandung - Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil has issued official statements on his Facebook account in relation to the disbandment of Christian worship dubbed Kebaktian Kebangunan Rohani (KKR) in the Sasana Budaya Ganesha (Sabuga) building, Bandung.
The KKR, led by Rev. Stephen Tong, was stopped following pressure from Muslim groups at the Sabuga on Tuesday evening, December 6, 2016.
“After an investigation into it, I hereby convey the following. First, the right to worship is a fundamental right of Indonesian people which is guaranteed by Pancasila and 1945 Constitution,” Ridwan Kamil wrote on Facebook on December 7, 2016.
Moreover, he said that Bandung residents are peaceful, tolerant and living their daily lives based on Pancasila. “I’m sorry for the challenges faced in performing worship due to the dynamics of coordination,” Ridwan Kamil noted.
The Mayor has regretted unwarranted presence of and intimidation from religious groups, which are against the regulations and the spirit of the national motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). “So long as it’s a one-off event, any religious event will be allowed to be held at public buildings, such as the Sabuga building,” he said.
The KKR organizing committee had previously agreed that the worship in Sabuga would only be held during the day and was eventually held from 1 pm to 4 pm local time. “I regret miscoordination between the organizing committee and police personnel in securing the event wherein the organizing committee intended to extend the event until the evening that conflicted with the agreement letter,” Ridwan Kamil revealed.
Bandung administration and the KKR organizing committee, he went on, will find time and space to make up for the loss of opportunity for Christians to perform Christmas worship last night. “Bandung administration would like to express apologies for the inconvenience and is hopeful that going forward the coordination of such event will be carried out better by the parties involved,” Ridwan Kamil said.
PUTRA PRIMA PERDANA
