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147 Catholic priests call for end to Papuan violence on Human Rights Day
“We’re calling for this from our conscience,” one of the priests said.
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In the spirit of Human Rights Day, 147 Catholic priests from five dioceses in Papua and West Papua have made 10 demands to various parties in Indonesia to seek an end to persistent conflicts in the provinces.
(JP/Hengky Wijaya)
I
n the spirit of Human Rights Day, 147 Catholic priests from five dioceses in Papua and West Papua have made 10 demands to various parties in Indonesia to seek an end to persistent conflicts in the provinces.
Group spokesman Father John Bunay, accompanied by 20 priests serving in Jayapura, said during a press conference in the Waena Light of the World Catholic Church on Thursday that conflicts had continued to undermine human dignity in Papua.
“These are moral calls for justice and truth,” said John. “Violence creates new problems. Dialogue and reconciliation are dignified ways to resolve conflicts in Papua.”
He said the priests felt compelled to make the statements because of continuing conflicts despite the fact that many Papuans “had accepted the gospel and abandoned their old ways of living”.
The murder of dozens of workers from state-owned construction company Istaka Karya in Nduga regency in 2018, for example, had led to military operations and the displacement of thousands of people, he said.
“People [from Nduga] are still taking refuge in Jayawijaya regency and its surroundings.”
He also cited the racial abuse of Papuan students in East Java in 2019, which led to widespread demonstrations. He said this had been the prelude to new violence in Papua.
