Widodo was welcomed by KWI president Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo of Jakarta, secretary-general Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin of Bandung and 8 other bishops.

"In the meeting, I talked about issues related to the Pancasila [the 5 principles on which the Indonesian state is based) as well as diversity especially in terms of religion, ethnicity, customs and traditions that we must continue to maintain," Widodo later told reporters.

"We must maintain our brotherhood, harmony and unity," he said.

During the meeting that lasted more than an hour, each bishop briefed the president on issues affecting his diocese.

Archbishop Suharyo told UCANEWS that president Widodo's visit was "to build friendship" and had "nothing to do with the presidential election," next year.

General elections in Indonesia are scheduled for April 17, 2019.

For the first time, the president and all the members of the People's Consultative Assembly will be elected on the same day.

Suharyo said, "There was no specific issue raised by the president during the meeting. He just wanted to hear directly from Catholics [about problems they are facing]."

The visit was Widodo's first as president. He had visited the conference's headquarters twice while he was Jakarta's governor from 2012 until 2014.

Suharyo also revealed that Widodo wanted to visit the Vatican.

"If it really happens, then the noble values the Indonesian people live by will be recognized by the international community," he said, referring to diversity and secularism enshrined in the constitution.

Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura said the president stressed the need to maintain diversity "because religious identity has become a big issue, particularly ahead of the presidential election."

Source

ucanews.com

en.antaranews.

vaticannews.

Image: ucanews.com

According to Papua police, 86 people have died, 264 have been seriously injured and 839 injured slightly since 2013 in alcohol-related incidents.

Papua governor Lukas Enembe as well law enforcement agencies and officials signed an "integrity pact" on March 30 this year that included prohibiting the production, distribution and sale of alcohol.

However, instead of making crackdowns, some officials are helping supply people with alcohol, according to Bishop John Philip Saklil of Timika.

He called for authorities to vigorously enforce the ban they put in place.

His call follows a string of deaths linked to adulterated homemade liquor.

Inaction from local government and security personnel, as well as general ignorance about bootleg alcohol contributed to the deaths, according to Saklil.

He added that because of such ignorance, the consumption of alcohol particularly bootleg liquor in his diocese, has become widespread.

The bishop claimed security personnel must have some role in supplying and selling liquor since people living in areas they can access but others find difficult to reach have a steady supply of alcohol.

"It's impossible they don't know anything about it," he said, suggesting there was a deliberate policy not to enforce the ban.

"The involvement of military and police in supplying and selling liquor and their reluctance to deal with violators of the ban, resulting in them letting perpetrators of crimes go is valid proof."

He referred to the deaths of the seven young men, saying three out of four people suspected of selling of bootleg liquor in the area avoided arrest, while the other was arrested but released a few hours later.

Papua police chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw couldn't be reached for comment on the bishop's allegation.

Source

• ucanews.com
• Image: photo.kontan.co.id

Father John Djonga appeared at the police station in Wamena on Feb. 26 after consulting with the bishop. Accompanied by a lawyer, he answered 55 questions from two police officers during the four-hour meeting.

The police summoned Father Djonga on Feb. 19, four days after he led a prayer service to inaugurate the office building of the Papuan Customary Council, where a banner of the separatist United Liberation Movement for West Papua was displayed. However, he refused to appear at that time, telling police to contact his superiors at the diocese instead.

"He had nothing to do with political matters," Bishop Ladjar told ucanews.com Feb. 27.

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