Posts Tagged ‘human rights in Papua’

Papuan activists demand locals be appointed as bishops

Monday, November 8th, 2021
Papuan activists bishops

Papuan activists have said protests against the Catholic Church will continue unless the pope appoints native Papuans as bishops to the Indonesian region in the future. Since February, the activists have held rallies in churches in Jayapura every Sunday, airing their demand for the Vatican to appoint native Papuan priests as bishops in their region. Read more

Catholic leaders in West Papua need to speak out on human rights issues ‎

Thursday, July 20th, 2017

A priest in Jayapura has added his voice to the growing call for the Catholic church to speak out about human rights issues in West Papua. Father Nico Syukur Dister who is is Professor at the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology in Jayapura accepts there are a variety of opinions on the question Read more

23 Bishops visit West Papua

Friday, April 15th, 2016

Last week 23 bishops made a rare visit to Indonesia’s most easterly province, West Papua. Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands have been meeting at St.Anthony’s Pilgrim House, Vanimo, for their Annual General Meeting from 4 to 15 April 2016. The  bishops had a meeting with 4 of the 5 bishops of Read more

Reports say at least 18 victims in savage attack in West Papua

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

Credible and disturbing reports are continuing to emerge from Tingginambut, Puncak Jaya, in the West Papuan highlands, detailing evidence of another violent rampage by the Indonesian army special forces (Kopassus) against civilians throughout May, allegedly by Kopassus officers stationed in the district which has been suffering war conditions since February.  Continue reading Continue Reading Radio Read more

Indonesians guilty of crimes against humanity in Papua

Friday, November 9th, 2012

The Central Body for the Fellowship of Baptist Churches has expressed alarm at the conduct of Indonesian security forces in Papua, according to a press release dated 01 November. Examples of crimes by the Indonesian security forces include: The bombing of the parliament Jayawijaya building on 1 September 2012 by OTK (Orang Tak Dikenal) the throwing Read more

NZ Superannuation withdraws investment in Freeport mine for ethical reasons

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012

The New Zealand Superannuation Fund has withdrawn its investment of $1 million in Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold over allegations of human rights offences committed by security forces around the company’s controversial Grasberg mine in Papua. According to Papua New Guinea Mine Watch (PNMW) Freeport has been directly or indirectly responsible for gross human rights abuses Read more

Interpol removes “red notice”on West Papuan Activist Benny Wenda

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Benny Wenda, the head of the Free West Papua Movement, has succeeded in having his name removed from an Interpol wanted list. He had had been issued with a red notice and was at risk of arrest and extradition. The Indonesian authorities say they wanted him to stand trial for murder and arson, offences he denies. But Read more

Conflicting reports about situation in Papua

Friday, June 29th, 2012

Reports of arrests continue to come out of Papua as a police crackdown intensifies. The Jayapura Police chief announced last Monday that his forces had detained three people responsible for “spreading fear and terror” in the province. The three — Jefry Wandikwo, Zakius Saplay and Calvin Wenda — allegedly acted in conjunction with slain independence Read more

We need a pulpit perspective on Papua

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

Members of regional parliaments are increasingly alarmed at the continuing violence in the Indonesian Papuan provinces and at the seeming inability of the Indonesian Government to administer these territories without a large military presence. The refusal of permission for journalists and many aid workers to enter the provinces is a growing cause of concern. On Read more