The situation in West Papua was one of the main focuses in a statement issued at the end of their recent meeting in Auckland by the Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops.

They called for:

• Quality education
• Fair and transparent access to jobs, training programmes and employment
• Respect of land titles
• Clear boundaries between the role of defence and police forces and the role of commerce

The bishops did not have a view on the question of independence for West Papua. "Indeed we believe that where this question becomes a single focus, care to uphold and strengthen local institutions of democracy may be overlooked."

They noted that a large majority of indigenous people of Papua seek peace. "The large majority of indigenous people of Papua seek peace and the various dialogue groups, advocating and witnessing to peaceful co-existence, are a source of hope for all."

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee in New Zealand has turned down a call to push for a UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression to visit West Papua.

A human rights petition, organised by West Papua Action Auckland and supported by other human rights groups and Catholic and Anglican church leaders, had sought for New Zealand to condemn the arrest and intimidation of peaceful protestors.

The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu and Palau have all called for UN intervention in West Papua.

Read the bishops' statement

Source

• Scoop Federation of Catholic Bishops Media release
• Voxy
• RNZ
• Asia Pacific Report
• Image: greenbooks.org

Plans envisage the construction of an eight-storey building on the ridge between the Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus. Five storeys will be underground, with 41,480 square metres of built-up space.

The proposed Mount of Olives military academy is intended to train senior commanders in the Israel Defence Force and the security forces.

The site used to be owned by two Palestinian families. In 1968, following the annexation of East Jerusalem by the state of Israel, it was expropriated by the Israeli government.

In a press release the ministry described the construction of the academy as "a central pillar in strengthening Jerusalem as the centre of national governmental institutions".

The Israel Defence Force has posted notices of the proposed construction around the Mount of Olives, including on the gate of the Lutheran Church of the Ascension (also known as Augusta Victoria).

Plans were deposited on October 20 and the public was given 60 days to file objections or reservations to the proposal, after which Jerusalem's regional planning committee will make its decision.

An Independent Catholic News report says: "Experience shows that any military presence brings with it large areas that are deemed closed areas under military law, which subsequently prevent access to roads, fields and homes by the local Palestinian community."

A group of campaigners based in the United Kingdom has set up a website, called Peace on the Mount of Olives, to oppose the project.

The website includes a statement by Emek Shaveh, an independent organisation of archaeologists and community activists focusing on the role of archaeology in Israeli society.

"If the churches get involved and oppose the plan it could have a great impact," Emek Shaveh says. "If the churches mention the holiness of the mountain, it might affect the plan. The most effective work, for you as outsiders, will be to influence the churches to object to the plan. I think that the Israeli authorities will be affected by pressure from churches and foreign governments."

Sources:

Independent Catholic News

Peace on the Mount of Olives

Image: Seetheholyland.net