Melanesian bishops study West Papua

Apr 22, 2016

INDONESIA: A local Catholic Women’s group told the bishops that “the United Liberation Movement for West Papua represents them and has their full support.”

Twenty-three bishops from Melanesia have concluded a fact-finding mission to Indonesian West Papua.

The bishops from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji who visited West Papua were closely accompanied by Indonesian military during their stay, Radio New Zealand reports.

The prelates included Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby and Archbishop Adrian Smith of Honiara.

Although restricted in who they could talk with, the bishops had a meeting with Bishop Herman Ferdinandus Maria Münninghoff of Jayapura and met with some students, according to a local Catholic Women’s group, who were unable to meet with the bishops.

“Our people experience violence and death because of the brutal actions of the Indonesian military and police,’ the women said in a statement delivered to the bishops.

“Every day more and more migrants arrive. We are becoming a minority in our land and even in our own church while the Indonesian people master all aspects of life.”

The women urged the bishops to continue helping raise awareness about the “many cases of violence and injustices” in Papua which have gone unresolved.

“The State does not address these. In fact, they are often the perpetrators or protect the perpetrators, so we feel we have nowhere to turn,” read the statement.

“Sadly, the Catholic Church in West Papua is largely silent about this and does not give voice to our cry for justice.”

The Catholic Women’s group said it wanted the international community to know that West Papuans want to be free to determine their own future.

The women told the bishops that the United Liberation Movement for West Papua represents them and has their full support. -- Global Pulse