1) WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATED IN PAPUA AMID VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN WITHIN ARMED CONFLICT

 

2) Papua needs native bishops to break deafening silence

3) 6 Chinese nationals arrested in Papua for illegal gold mining  

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https://en.jubi.co.id/world-childrens-day-celebrated-in-papua-amid-violence-against-children-within-armed-conflict/

1) WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATED IN PAPUA AMID VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN WITHIN ARMED CONFLICT

News Desk November 22, 2021 4:15 pm

                              llustration refugee children Nduga Regency Jayawijaya some time ago - Jubi. Doc

Jayapura, Jubi – On November 20 every year, the world community celebrates World Children’s Day. The theme for this year’s World Children’s Day is “A Better Future for Every Child”. Sadly, such a beautiful theme is far from what Papuan children are experiencing today. Papuan children living in conflict zones have been denied the right to security, food, shelter, health, and education, as well as the right to worship and other constitutional rights.

“The Papuan children in Nduga Regency have been living in fear in refugee camps since 2018. The same goes for children in Intan Jaya Regency since 2019, while children in Puncak Regency, Maybrat Regency, and Bintang Mountains Regency experienced the same terror in 2021,” said the Papua Legal Aid Institute (LBH Papua) in a written statement received by Jubi on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

Even the more gruesome, two children were shot in a crossfire between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police and the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB) in Intan Jaya on Oct. 26, one of them died. Such a fact clearly shows both parties’ failure to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect the civilians in armed conflict.

Commissioner of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Beka Ulung Hapsara said his party had met directly with refugees in Aitinyo and Aiwasi districts, gathering information about their conditions and hopes. The commission has also received on Nov. 8 a report on the alleged violation of human rights in the shooting of the two Papuan children, Nopelius Sondegau and Yoakim Mazau.

Director of LBH Papua Emanuel Gobay hoped that the state, through the Papua and West Papua Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agencies, could protect and respect Papuan children’s rights as stipulated in Article 21 Paragraph 2 of Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection.

Gobay also hoped that the Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) could carry out its duties in supervising the implementation of the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights, as well as reporting to the authorities about alleged violations of the law, as stipulated in Article 76 Letters A and G of the same law.

In encouraging the creation of a better future for every child, just as the theme of the 2021 World Children’s Day, the LBH Papua calls on (1) the Indonesian President and Vice President to immediately enforce “protection for children in armed conflict zones in Papua”, (2) the Papua Provincial Government to form a special team to protect children in Papua, (3) the Komnas HAM chair to investigate the alleged murder of two-year-old Nopelinus Sondegau, and (4) the KPAI chair to carry out its duties in supervising and reporting on the protection and fulfillment of children’s rights in Papua. (*)

Editor: Syam Terrajana

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/papua-needs-native-bishops-to-break-deafening-silence/95033#

2) Papua needs native bishops to break deafening silence

Perceived lack of support from Indonesian prelates has sparked Papuan calls to Vatican for leaders from own ranks

Siktus HarsonSiktus Harson, JakartaPublished: November 22, 2021 02:33 AM GMT

A priest leads a prayer service in Papua province, where there are growing calls for the Vatican to appoint indigenous priests as bishops amid a deepening distrust of prelates from other parts of Indonesia. (Photo: Flori G.)

The people of Papua have become disenchanted over a lack of action among Catholic leaders amid the hardships they are facing.  The silence of the shepherds amid a climate of insurgency-led violence and perceived state oppression is interpreted as them showing no concern, prompting locals to seek help from the universal Church. 

 Papuans, individually or in groups, have renewed calls for a change of church leadership in their homeland. They have appealed to the Vatican to appoint bishops from their own kind, who smell like sheep, eat with them and will protect them from enemies. 

The demand for native Papuan bishops has grown stronger in recent years as tensions in Indonesia’s easternmost region escalate and many civilians including Christians have been killed.  The opportunity to have them is here as Catholics in Timika and Jayapura dioceses are waiting for new bishops.  

Earlier this year, members of One Voice for Papua Lay Catholics said they had no confidence in the bishops working in Papua — Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Merauke, Bishop Leo Laba Ladjar of Jayapura, Bishop Aloysius Murwito of Agats-Asmat and Bishop Hilarion Datus Lega of Manokwari-Sorong.

"The group also accused the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference of showing no concern when two catechists were shot in Papua’s Intan Jaya Regency” 

They see the prelates as having shown a lack of interest in supporting them in their struggles. They called on the Vatican to replace them with native Papuan priests and accused them of turning a blind eye to a humanitarian crisis in the region.   

The group also accused the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference of showing no concern when two catechists were shot in Papua’s Intan Jaya Regency last year but speaking out when a family were attacked by terrorists elsewhere in Indonesia, in Central Sulawesi.  

Group members said the criticism and demand for native bishops did not mean they were against the Catholic Church. It was simply because non-native bishops don’t understand, reflected in their silence on human rights abuses in the region.   

Some Catholics, however, defended the bishops, saying that as leaders the prelates have different ways of showing concern about rights violations and that collaboration with authorities or rights groups in investigating crimes is part of their support. 

But for many Papuans, a shepherd can do more than that and the late Bishop John Philip Saklil, the first native Papuan bishop, had shown this.  From his inauguration as bishop in 2003 until his death in August 2019, the prelate was loved by his people as he dared to speak against violence and land encroachment in his diocese.   Since his death, Catholics have been longing for someone like him to lead Timika Diocese and others in the troubled region.   

In a letter published by Detik Papua in August, Yakobus Dumupa, the head of Dogiyai district in Timika Diocese, explained the reason why Catholics have appealed to Pope Francis for a native bishop. 

 He pointed out that appointing native bishops would eliminate suspicion and distrust among Papuans towards non-Papuan nuns, bishops and church administrators. Some see their silence as supporting the Indonesian government in harming and victimizing indigenous Papuans. 

In the past, he says, a lack of native Papuan priests was the reason for not appointing indigenous prelates. But now that many Papuan priests have leadership capabilities. Pope Francis should appoint some of them as bishops to keep the Catholic Church relevant to Papuans, he adds.   The pope could perhaps start with the successor to late Bishop Saklil and by replacing Bishop Ladjar of Jayapura, who should have retired three years ago but remains in office pending a replacement decision by Pope Francis.

"Catholics have been told to accept the pope’s decisions with full obedience because before making one he has asked for guidance from the Holy Spirit”

Will the pope do as they ask? If he does, will it change the situation in Papua?

There is no fixed answer to that question, but the Catholic Church has rules of engagement when it comes to the appointment of bishops.

Church law expert Father Rikardus Jehaut, a member of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand, says the Vatican considers a lot of factors before choosing a new bishop.

The process takes years to complete as it involves broad consultations with many parties, as mandated by Article 378 of the Canon Law.

The article, he says, explicitly underlines the qualifications that prospective candidates must possess. They include having a good reputation, impeccable morality and wisdom, orthodoxy of faith, loyalty to the church magisterium, a doctorate or licentiate in dogmatic, moral theology or canon law, and possessing good pastoral and management skills.

But even if a priest has all these qualifications, there are other considerations, and it’s totally at the pope’s discretion.  

Catholics have been told to accept the pope’s decisions with full obedience because before making one he has asked for guidance from the Holy Spirit. That’s one of the characteristics and strengths of the Catholic faith.

The demand by Papuan Catholics for native bishops is timely as the universal Church is preparing for the Synod of Bishops in 2023. The pope kicked off the diocesan consultation process on Oct. 17 and has extended the deadline until August next year to allow more Catholics, including those in conflict zones, to participate. 

Papuan Catholics must take this opportunity to make their voice for change heard through the Vatican's corridors. 

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official editorial position of UCA News.

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/200917/6-chinese-nationals-arrested-in-papua-for-illegal-gold-mining

3) 6 Chinese nationals arrested in Papua for illegal gold mining  

2 hours ago

Waropen, Papua (ANTARA) - Indonesian security personnel arrested six undocumented Chinese nationals found illegally mining gold in Sewa village, Wapoga sub-district, Waropen district, Papua province, on Sunday.

They were identified as Ge Junfeng (48), Lein Feng (37), Yan Gangping (41), Tan Liguo (54 ), Tan Lihua (58), and Lu Huacheng (38 ), Lt.Col.Leon Pangaribuan, commanding officer of the 1709/Yawa District Military Command, informed in a statement received by ANTARA here on Monday.

The Chinese nationals had been in Sewa village for four days, said Pangaribuan.

The illegal aliens' whereabouts were detected after a local resident informed officers of the 1709-03/Warbah Sub-district Military Command, he added. The army personnel then went to the village and nabbed them, he continued.

The Chinese nationals could not show any legal documents, including passports, nor did they speak the Indonesian language, Pangaribuan said, adding that they were handed over to the Biak immigration authority.

According to the Papua Immigration Office, 116 foreign nationals faced legal sanctions and were deported last year.

Ninety-nine of the 116 illegal immigrants were Papua New Guinea (PNG) citizens, while the remaining 17 comprised 14 Chinese nationals, two South Korean nationals, and one US citizen, it informed.

Currently, Papua province has immigration offices in Jayapura, Merauke, Timika, and Biak as well as 10 active immigration checkpoints and two cross-border posts.

ANTARA has reported that illegal gold mining activities have oftentimes been blamed for the environmental damage that has resulted in landslides and flash floods in various parts of Indonesia.

In this context, President Joko Widodo had drawn attention to the criticality of curbing illegal gold mining activities to prevent the recurrence of natural disasters in the future.

At a recent webinar, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Arifin Tasrif had said that illegal mining activities were acts of crime, and the Indonesian government will continue to crack down on them.

The rising market prices of mineral and coal commodities over the past year have triggered an increase in illegal mining activities in various parts of Indonesia, he added.

Related news: Combating mercury use in gold mining remains a challenge: ministry
Related news: Authorities mull curbs on unregulated gold mining in C Sulawesi
Related news: Four dead, two missing in illegal mining landslide in Lebak

Reporter: Muhsidin, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati

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