Morning Star News, 13 March 2023 (excerpts)
Muslims in a village in north-eastern Indonesia’s portion of Borneo Island prohibited a church from constructing a worship building.
Local leaders in Tarakan City in North Kalimantan Province, stated in a Feb. 28 letter that the Christian Church’s proposed construction was against state regulations since it would be located amid predominantly Muslim tribes.
Kristianto Triwibowo, coordinator of the Indonesian Christian Student Movement (GMKI), reportedly said the ban defies the Indonesian constitution and the government’s guiding policy of unity and social justice for all of Indonesia’s various peoples.
“The state guarantees the right to worship and embrace the religion of all people,” Kristianto said March 7. “Instead of rejecting the services of the Church, which should not happen, we must tolerate each other and maintain diversity.”
The GMKI encouraged the North Kalimantan and Tarakan City governments, along with the Ministry of Religion and various state agencies, to fully protect activities of the church, which is registered with the Ministry of Religion.