Religious Dispute Arises in Indonesian Village Over Church Establishment
In an ongoing religious controversy, residents of a village in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, have opposed the establishment of a new church, despite assertions from church authorities that all legal protocols have been satisfied.
The village of Sungai Keledang in the Samarinda Seberang district has seen local inhabitants display banners disapproving of the church’s attempt to obtain a license, reflecting their refusal to allow the church to be built.
Hendra Kusuma, head of the National Alliance for Freedom of Religion and Belief (AKKBB) in East Kalimantan and legal advisor for the Sungai Keledang Toraja Church, shared with International Christian Concern that this is the third instance of such public displays of opposition.
“We deeply regret this … This is a form of symbolic intimidation that continues to repeat itself. In fact, from a legal and administrative perspective, we have complied with all applicable provisions,” Kusuma stated.
According to Kusuma, the church has secured a recommendation from Indonesia’s Interfaith Harmony Forum, as well as from the Samarinda City Ministry of Religion. Additionally, 80 local residents have backed the church, meeting the necessary requirements under the regulations for establishing new religious structures.
With a congregation comprising around 90 active members, Kusuma has advocated for open communication between church members and their non-Christian neighbors to hopefully reach a mutual understanding.
“I also want to hear from the parties who reject it what are the reasons behind the rejection of the establishment of this church house of worship,” Kusuma said. “Because all the requirements have been met, hopefully, the government or the DPRD can facilitate this later.”
The demographic landscape in East Kalimantan is predominantly Muslim, with Christians, mostly Protestant along with a notable Catholic minority, making up nearly 12 per cent of the population — a reflection of the broader religious composition of Indonesia.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
