Indonesia’s Home Affairs Minister, Tito Karnavian, has praised the recent completion of the GKI Pengadilan Presbyterian church in Bogor, West Java, after a long-standing dispute between the church and local residents. The church had earlier been known as GKI Yasmin, and its planned construction was at the center of the dispute. The Christian organization began building the church in 2006 but faced opposition from local residents. The government revoked the permit to build the church to avoid conflict, and a legal battle ensued. In 2012, the city government offered a relocation plan, and in June 2021, Bogor Mayor Bima Arya granted land to build the church after members of the group agreed to the relocation plan. Karnavian expressed his gratitude for the church’s inauguration, signaling the end of the dispute and stating that the issue serves as a lesson to resolve issues through good leadership, management, and coordination. The tireless work of regional authorities to communicate with the central government and people sets an example that should be emulated by others, he added.
