Daily News Indonesia – Jakarta Governor Mr. Anies Baswedan together with Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Cardinal Suharyo recently laid the groundwork and handed over a Building Permit (IMB) for the construction of the Damai Christ Catholic Church, which is located in Duri Selatan, Tambora, West Jakarta.
It is a happy day, after decades of waiting, finally the members of the Catholic Church of Peace of Christ can accept the IMB of their church. The granting of the IMB and the principle permit to the Damai Christ Catholic Church is a sign of the DKI Provincial Government’s commitment to provide social justice for all the people of DKI Jakarta,” said Governor Anies, as quoted from his Facebook account Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
Anies said that equality in opportunity must be present at the operational level. The former Minister of Education and Culture hopes that what his government is doing together, namely bringing justice, building unity, can actually grow in Jakarta.
There is a big responsibility behind a permit to build a place of worship, and I believe this responsibility will be carried out well. So, government presence is felt as happiness for all in this area,” he explained.
The former rector of Paramadina University also hopes that the construction of the Peaceful Christ Catholic Church will run smoothly and on time. And development can bring a message of tranquility, as well as shade for the surrounding environment.
“Let’s create a better, more comfortable and more prosperous Jakarta together. Let’s continue to maintain friendship, because with friendship, a sense of kinship, togetherness, unity and integrity of the citizens of the city of Jakarta will be maintained, “said Anies Baswedan.
The moment of handing over the IMB for the construction of a Catholic church as well as the laying of the first stone for the Damai Christ Catholic Church in Duri Selatan, Tambora, West Jakarta (20/12) became the latest undeniable fact of Governor Anies’ true attitude who views importance and principles in providing the best service to all citizens of Indonesia. various religious denominations in its working area.
The recent issuance of IMB and principle permits to the Damai Christ Catholic Church and dozens of other evidences are signs that the commitment of Governor Anies to provide social justice for all the people of Jakarta are not empty words.
Previously, before Christmas 2021, Governor Anies had also completed the renovation project of the historic GPIB Immanuel Church in Gambir, Central Jakarta, which cost tens of billions of the Jakarta Province budget without any objections or similar demands from Muslims so that Governor Anies also spent the regional budget for renovation purposes. mosques in Jakarta.
Obviously this is not Anies’ “charming offensive” image or propaganda in order to gain support alledgedly campaign Anies for President 2024 .
Substantively, Catholics who have been waiting for decades for this historic moment are proof that the issue of equal treatment and justice for all Jakartans is not a simple matter. It’s the same as when the Tamil Hindus were given a land loan from DKI to build their house of worship, who also had to wait decades until the historic moment of the establishment of the Tamil Hindu Temple was realized and this community was given a ‘spiritual home’ for their worship and social activities as citizens in this country. .
Anies has shown a lot of evidence during his tenure as governor in upholding justice and finding ways so that his citizens are not only happy, because finally in Anies’ hands they have succeeded in realizing hope and justice after dealing with difficult bureaucracy and a long time for a problem that is difficult to solve. looks simple on the surface.
The ceremony of handover of the IMB and the laying of the foundation stone for the Catholic Church is like a gift for Catholics ahead of Christmas 2021. In addition, the wait for them to have a place of worship has been waiting for decades, and has only been realized by Anies Baswedan.
Anies’ move to hand over the IMB and the laying of the first stone received high appreciation from militant supporters of former DKI Governor Basuki Tjahja Purnama alias Ahok. This can be seen on their official Facebook account @Ahok Kerja Kreatif which has a blue tick aka an account that has received verification from Facebook.
“Even though we have different political views, Anies’ action in laying the church’s first stone after waiting for decades is still worthy of our appreciation,” wrote the @AhokWorks account, quoted by KBA News in Jakarta, Thursday, December 23, 2021.
They continued, Anies’ move was a clear proof that the former minister of education and culture do not give rooms to radical and intolerant parties in Indonesia.
“At a time when there is often a rejection of the construction of places of worship in various regions including those where Muslims are a minority Anies’ attitude further emphasizes that there is no place for radical elements in Indonesia,” they asserted.
According to them, the non-material wealth of the Indonesian people, including thousands of traditions originating from the diversity of customs and cultures that are spread throughout this nation, is not only a unique feature of this country, but also produces local wisdom that explains why we must be able to live side by side even though we are different. religion, ethnicity, race to political choices.
The Indonesian nation is a big nation with thousands of cultures and uniqueness. It is this uniqueness that makes Indonesia beautiful and has survived to this day, so we all need maturity to accept, enjoy, and live side by side in this furnace called Indonesia,” they explained.
This account, which has 565,000 followers, also congratulates the Jakarta Archdiocese’s Commission for Social Affairs for the construction of the Catholic Church of Peace of Christ.
“Congratulations also to the Social Commission of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, I hope everything goes well,” they said.
The issue of intolerance does not fly
The chairman of the Light Foundation from the East, Billy David Nerotumilena, assessed that the Governor of DKI Jakarta, Anies Baswedan, had given justice to the people of the capital city. Also full of tolerance towards all groups regardless of social, economic, ethnic, religious and other groups.
“Accusations or slander against Anies are currently only debates in the field. But if we go directly to the field, there has never been discrimination, there has never been injustice,” said Billy to KBA News, Monday, December 27, 2021.
The concrete evidence is that Anies Baswedan is fair to all community and interest groups, including religious groups. Anies’ track record of justice and tolerance has been widely spread across various community and religious groups in the capital, such as granting Church Building Permits (IMB) to helping build places of worship for Hindus.
Commenting Governor Anies issued an IMB for the establishment of the Damai Christ Catholic Church in Tambora, West Jakarta. Billy also commented.
Just imagine, after 52 years of this Church being established, it was only in the Anies era that they got the IMB? said the member of the Joint Team for the Acceleration of Development (TGUPP) of DKI Jakarta.
Operational assistance for houses of worship
In addition to granting IMB, what is most impressive about the justice in the capital that Anies has carried out is the Operational Assistance for Places of Worship (BOTI) grant program for houses of worship and their administrators.
The Jakarta Provincial Government (Pemprov) has budgeted the 2021 BOTI grant fund of IDR 140.520 billion. This grant is for 3,200 mosques, 2,000 prayer rooms, 1,379 churches, 263 monasteries as well as 19 temples, shrines, and mandils.
Billy emphasized that Anies Baswedan is a leader who has high integrity and tolerance. He had taken such an attitude long before he held any public office, such as the Governor of DKI Jakarta.
The polarization on this issue since the 2017 Pilkada may continue to be felt. But anyone who knows Anies Baswedan personally or how he thinks about and decides on issues related to the issue of equal justice for religious people reflects Anies’ high level of tolerance as a leader,” said Billy closing the conversation.
IMB issuance for houses of worship
Allegations of intolerance continue to be pinned against the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan by political opponents without data and evidence.
These accusations are remnant of poslitical revenge in the 2016 DKI Jakarta Regional Head Election. In fact, Anies himself is a person who insists on opposing intolerant attitudes.
One of the important notes in Anies Baswedan’s policy is to give IMBs to dozens of churches which have been waiting for the permit for a long time. Some have waited 40 and 50 years for a permit to build their place of worship to be issued, and when it was issued, it was in the Government of Governor Anies Baswedan.
What is special is that there are three churches that have not received an IMB for decades, in Tambora it is 52 years and in other places it is 40 years. That’s by Anies getting an IMB after decades of not getting an IBM,” said social activist Geisz Chalifah on a talk show quoted by KBA News in Jakarta, Thursday, December 30, 2021.
Geisz said that from 2018 to 2021 Anies issued more IMB for church construction than IMB for mosque construction. Data collected from the Bureau of Mental and Spiritual Education (Dikmental) of the DKI Jakarta Regional Secretariat, shows that there are 24 building permits for churches and 11 mosques.
Geisz also made his comments regarding PSI Chairman Mr. Giring Ganesha speech during the anniversary of his party, before President Jokowi recently also accussed Anies to play identity politics and intolerance.
“In the midst of a very conducive Christmas, Jakarta residents enjoy a comfortable Christmas atmosphere, Giring gives a very rude speech declaring a liar and almost all of it is hate, which does not talk about Indonesia in the future,” Geisz regretted. (kba)
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