Catholic youth, students protest Papua priest’s treatment

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

Catholic students and young people in Papua have marched in protest against police interrogation of a Catholic priest.

The protest in Jayapura by the Union of Catholic University Students of Indonesia and Catholic Youth organisations was in response to police treatment of Fr John Djonga.

Last month, Fr Djonga led a prayer service at the opening of an office of the Papuan Indigenous Council, from which a banner of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua was displayed.

Four days later, Fr Djonga was subjected to an intense grilling by police.

According to police, Fr Djonga was considered a witness to a violation of Indonesia’s criminal code pertaining to treason.

Protesters from the Catholic Youth and the Union of Catholic University Students of Indonesia organisations marched several kilometres to the police headquarters to hold their protest.

They called on police to stop harassing Fr Djonga.

The priest said he was told police may call him in for further questioning, but insisted he was unfazed by police scrutiny.

This is not the first time Fr Djonga has faced scrutiny by Indonesia’s authorities.

In 2012, he was charged with colluding and supporting pro-independence leaders in hiding in the forests and abroad.

His phone, which contained phone numbers of pro-independence leaders, became evidence.

In his defence, Fr Djonga asked authorities also to reveal a phone list of his containing the numbers of Indonesian police and military officials, and announce the names of all Jakarta officials, including ministers, who had contacted him and communicated with him.

He told investigators at that time that, as a pastor, it was his duty to bridge communication and dialogue with all parties, without resorting to the use of violence.

New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has been urged by West Papua Action Auckland to express concern to Indonesian authorities about the intimidation of peaceful human rights activists.

Sources