The World Council of Churches General Secretary the Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit was in West Papua (Tanah Papua) from 17 to 20 June as part of his ten-day visit to Indonesia.
Tveit said the focus of his visit was to listen and support the church in its efforts of being church in a difficult situation. “For the local church this means praying with the people and speaking up for justice through peaceful means.”
“The Indonesian government must consider the realities of Papuan people and ensure a secure future for them,” said Tveit. He went on to say that “struggles for both justice and peace in Papua reflects the urgency and timeliness of the theme of the World Council of Churches upcoming assembly ‘God of life, lead us to peace and justice'”. The World Council of Churches assembly will take place in 2013 in Busan, Korea.
There are more than 45 different denominations in West Papua (Tanah Papua). In February, the Executive Committee of the World Council of Churches expressed concern over continuing violence and urged a peaceful resolution.
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