They want the "foreign" bishop to be replaced by a native-born Papuan priest.

Lega was born on Flores Island in Nusa Tenggara Timur, the southernmost province of Indonesia.

The anger allegedly stems from a dispute between two priests that turned into an ethnic feud.

The diocese does not seem willing to confirm this.

A lay Catholic in the diocese who asked for anonymity told ucanews.com that the problems began in April when diocesan treasurer Father Rudy Renyaan — a Papuan — threatened to kill Father Paul Tan an ethnic Chinese priest over a financial dispute.

The death threat resulted in the Papuan receiving a 13-month prison sentence.

Renyaan is currently in Sorong prison, while Tan has been transferred to Jayapura Diocese, in neighbouring Papua province.

Hundreds of Catholics took to the streets of Sorong in Manokwari-Sorong diocese on Sept. 12, to demand Lega's the resignation.

Some 250 police were deployed to monitor the protest, which passed off peacefully.

The protesters accused Lega of being arrogant, discriminatory and unable to solve problems affecting the diocese.

In a statement read out during the rally, Lega was also accused of not respecting indigenous Papuan priests.

"He is not a good and right leader of Catholics.

He is not a true shepherd according to the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church," the statement said.

Diocesan officials, however, denied the accusations, saying everything was fine.

In a statement received by ucanews.com, several priests in the diocese defended Lega, saying there were no problems between the bishop and his priests and that the protesters were small in number.

The priests also called on other Catholics in the diocese to remain united and not be easily provoked."Let us not let ourselves be consumed by false information and spread false rumours," they said.

Source

• ucanews.com
• Image: ucanews.com Frans Michael

Nai Lalakai editor Anare Ravula, The Fiji Times Editor-in-Chief, Fred Wesley and The Fiji Times general manager/publisher Hank Arts, the Fiji Times Limited.

They are charged with inciting communal antagonism in relation to letter to the editor published by the Fiji Times in its supplemental iTaukei language newspaper, Nai Lalakai on April 27 this year.

A fourth man, Josaia Waqabaca, the author of the letter also appeared in court and was charged with the same offence.

The charges were made under the Crimes Decree, passed by the military government in 2009.

The letter accused Muslims of invading foreign lands, and killing, raping and abusing women and children.

It also warned that some muslims had found their way into Fiji's parliament.

It was written by Josaia Waqabaca, who was jailed after the 2000 coup, for his role in a plot to kidnap the then military commander, and now prime minister, Frank Bainimarama.

The Decree's section 65 prohibits any communication that is likely to incite dislike, hatred or antagonism of any community.

The April 27 letter includes this paragraph:

The content read:

Ko ira na Musulomani era sega ni taukei kei Viti, sai ira nai lawalawa oqo era a curu botea na vanua eso ka dua vei ira ko Bangladesh mai Idia, kara vei vakamatei kina, kucuvi na nodra yalewa, ra vakararawataki na gone me yacova sara nira sa lewa ka sa nodra tu edaidai

Translation:

"Muslims are not the indigenous of this country. These are people that have invaded other nations, for example, Bangladesh in India, where they killed, raped and abused their women and children. Today they have gone to the extent of having a part in the running of the country".

The four were required to provide sureties of a $1000 each and were released on bail.

They will reappear in court on August 31.

The maximum penalty for the charge is 10 years imprisonment.

In 2013, the newspaper was fined $US 170,000 for contempt of court, for publishing an article that called into question the independence of Fiji's post-coup judiciary.

Source

• radionnz.co.nz
• Fijisun.com.fj
• fijitimes.com
• Image: fijisun.com.fj

The future of the detainees still remains uncertain.

They have the option to settle in PNG or return home.

The latest figures show just one in four transferees are opting to fly back to their countries of origin.

For now the Ministry of Immigration in Papua New Guinea says all asylum seekers detained on Manus Island are now free to come and go from the processing centre.

For the past three weeks detainees have been free to wander town, go fishing, to the beach and to the market.

Tension between the locals and the detainees is growing.

"They are Muslims, we are Christians, the world is at war over religion, and I do not think we can live peacefully," said Koporou clan chief and prominent local businessman Mochon Peter.

He said the asylum seekers had no respect for what they are given.

"Send them back," the Lombrum landowners committee chairman said.

"No option. Send them back to their own country."

"We don't want them. They are cheating us."

Peter said the asylum seekers were "ungrateful illegals" who are "treated like kings".

Peter, who owns Juromo wholesale and retail stores on Manus, said the "massive boatloads of cash" spent by Australia had been an economic windfall for his isolated island community.

"It has been a blessing for Manus," he said.

"It has brought luck and development for Manus."

Many locals are part of the 2000-odd support staff at the site and there are now new sealed roads, a brand new market, a hospital project, an airport upgrade and plans for a new police station.

"Now everyone is in the dark about the future."

"Many people will lose their jobs and feel much shame."

"The detainees are going around with locals girls, it's creating a lot of jealousy, they are drinking and smoking drugs. "

"If they walk the streets at night PNG people will chop them up with a bush knife. It's not safe."

He said many locals felt resentful towards the "illegals" compared to the dire poverty of his own people.

"Australia should look after its own backyard first," said Mr Peter.

Source

• www.news.com.au
• couriermail.com.au
• Image: Brian Cassey/News Corp Australia