The Indonesian Ombudsman, tasked with overseeing public services, has given the administration in Bogor town of West Java 60 days to reopen the embattled GKI Yasmin Church, reports The Jakarta Post.

The government oversight body declared the Bogor Mayor Diani Budiarto guilty of “maladministration” and must annul his previous decision to revoke the church’s building permit.

“The Bogor mayor didn’t show any commitment to implementing the Supreme Court ruling,” said Budi Santoso, a member of the body, referring to the court’s order that the church’s building site is reopened.

“The measures taken by the Bogor mayor represent more of a sociological approach that is not related to the court’s ruling,” Budi added

The Bogor administration had issued a building permit for GKI Yasmin in 2006, but revoked it two years later, alleging that the church had falsified the signatures required to obtain it.

Church members have been forced to hold services on the sidewalk ever since.

In December, the country’s top court ruled in favor of GKI Yasmin, annulling the revocation. The city, however, refused to comply for fear that it would spark unrest, and instead offered an alternative location for the church. On March 11, the Bogor mayor revoked the church’s building permit for a second time.

During a meeting on Monday with members of the Bogor administration, the West Java government and the Home Affairs Ministry, the ombudsman chastised the city for ignoring the Supreme Court ruling.

“This ignorance could be classified as negligence with regards to the law,” Budi said. “Every action taken by the Bogor mayor must be in compliance with the Supreme Court decision.”

FULL STORY AND RELATED COVERAGE

Ombudsman Comes Through for Embattled Bogor Church (The Jakarta Globe)

House to summon Bogor mayor (The Jakarta Post)

PHOTO CREDIT, ARCHIVE

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