Page 33 - IB APR 2017

TradeReligion
Churches fight Indon abuses

by Netani Rika WHAT THE CHURCHES
WANT FROM PNG
A NEW-LOOK Papua New Guinea Coun-
cil of Churches has vowed to step up q Advocate to the PNG Government to
the fight against human rights abuses consider the passing of the One People
by Indonesian security forces across Bill in parliament and for inclusion of
the border. West Papua in the MSG.
After more than a week of talks
and years of negotiations, leaders of q Advocate to the government to al-
PNG’s mainstream churches gathered locate lands for resettlement for West
at Goroka to discuss the revival of this Papuan refugees and to provide oppor-
ecumenical movement which had been tunities for education and employment
dormant for a decade. to them.
Immediately after the gathering the
leaders of the Anglican, Catholic, Evan- q Advocate to the international com-
gelical Lutheran and United churches munity for recognition of the West
issued a joint statement calling for unity, Papua struggle for self-determination
cooperation and rethinking of ecumeni- and freedom from human rights abuses.
cal relations. AN armed Indonesian riot police officer stands guard
In a powerful statement the leaders q Advocate for the liberation of the at a church meeting in Waisai, West Papua.
vowed to call on the PNG government Indonesian leaders and people to recog- Photo: Invictus
– long an ally of Jakarta out of fear nise the plight of West Papuan struggle in a statement.
of the Indonesian military, a need for for liberation. “In this unity we uphold the principle
economic support or a combination of - Source: Pacific Conference of Churches of ‘the love of God and love for neigh-
these factors – to consider supporting bour’ and have deep concerns for the
full membership of West Papua in the abuse of God’s creation in their dignity
Melanesian Spearhead Group. as people.
Along with Fiji, PNG has for the last “The church leaders have recognized “This has been evident in the on-go-
three years blocked attempts by Vanu- the need for a just resettlement and ing human rights violation, oppression,
atu and the Solomon Islands to allow that means jobs, sources of livelihood, genocide (in Papua) and occupation (by
Papuan dissident groups into the MSG. economic independence,” Rakabi said. Indonesia).
Pacific Conference of Churches Pro- He said the PCC realised the need for “Our solidarity signifies the foun-
grammes Officer, Sirino Rakabi, was a Christian unity in several regional issues dational moral commitment amongst
key figure in bringing the PNGCC back – mainly in the area of social justice. leaders of Christian churches in Papua
to life and was critical of the Fiji-PNG With close to 90 per cent of the Pacific New Guinea who share concern for each
stand on MSG membership. population claiming to be Christian, other and for our people of West Papua.
“One of the main reasons for the churches continue to have a tremendous “As leaders we acknowledge the
formation of the MSG was not trade but influence over society. initiative already taken by the govern-
the opportunity for Melanesians to stand In Maohi Nui (French Polynesia) the ment, some churches and civil society
by their brothers and sisters in New church has been critical in the fight to organisations to help in the struggle
Caledonia in the fight for independence,” stop nuclear testing and the reinstate- for our Wantok brothers and sisters of
Rakabi said. ment of the territory on the C24 list of West Papua.”
“The FLNKS is doing well and has territories for decolonisation. For the time being church efforts
won some concessions against France – Two years ago the PCC was instru- will focus on awareness raising and
all because of the MSG. Now they refuse mental in the revival of the Fiji Council relationship building among the Papua
to help West Papua. That is a hypocriti- of Churches which collapsed in the New Guinea people and West Papuans’
cal and shameful stance.” wake of the involvement of some of its living in Papua New Guinea at local
The clerics also want specific alloca- more radical members on the fringes of community level.
tion of land where West Papuan political George Speight’s takeover of Parliament. This is an attempt to bring about rec-
refugees can be resettled. Now that the PNG church hiatus is ognition and acceptance of the Papuans
A number of Papuans live in squatter ended, leaders say they want to uphold and their sense of identity and belong-
settlements around Port Moresby and the will of their ancestors and their belief ing in Papua New Guinea.
other urban centres while those with in Christianity. That means Port Moresby and Jakarta
links to PNG tribes have set up homes “In acknowledging their wish and can expect a little more heat over the
on traditional land around Vanimo close dream for Papua New Guinea we stand Papua issue in the coming months –
to the border. together in solidarity to voice our con- especially leading up to the elections in
Apart from the land, there is also a cern for the plight of our Wantoks in PNG later this year.
need for employment opportunities. West Papua,” the PNGCC leaders said r netrika66@gmail.com

Islands Business, April 2017 33