1) Our action is peaceful: Morning Star flag raiser

2) Second booster vaccinations start for West Papua health workers 

3) Archbishop prioritizes education, health in Indonesia’s Papua

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https://en.jubi.id/our-action-is-peaceful-morning-star-flag-raiser/

1) Our action is peaceful: Morning Star flag raiser   

Alleged Treason - News Desk 8 August 2022

The defendants in the alleged treason case examine evidence for the raising of the Morning Star at Cenderawasih Sports Center on December 1, 2021, during a trial that took place at the Abepura Penitentiary, Jayapura City, Thursday (4/8/2022). – Jubi/Theo Kelen

Jayapura, Jubi – The Jayapura District Court on Thursday, August 4, 2022, continued the trial of the alleged treason involving seven Morning Star raisers at Cenderawasih Sports Center, Jayapura City. The seven defendants, namely Melvin Yobe (29), Melvin Fernando Waine (25), Devio Tekege (23), Yosep Ernesto Matuan (19), Maksimus Simon Petrus You (18), Lukas Kitok Uropmabin (21), and Ambrosius Fransiskus Elopere (21), were tried in the courtroom of the Abepura Penitentiary.

When examined by the panel of judges, Melvin Yobe said their action aimed to convey a public message that an armed conflict was currently taking place in Papua, in the regencies of Nduga, Intan Jaya, Maybrat, Bintang Mountains, and Yahukimo, which also kills and injured civilians. Melvin said this matter required proper attention from the government and the public so that this conflict can be resolved immediately.

Melvin Yobe and his friends met on December 1, 2021, at Cenderawasih Sports Center at 12.00 local time. They raised the Morning Star on the flagpole in the courtyard and prayed. They raised the Morning Star because it was a symbol of Papuan culture, as regulated in Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21/2001.

After raising the Morning Star, Melvin Yobe and his friends then marched to the Papua Legislative Council (DPRP) Office carrying the Morning Star flag and two banners that had been prepared. They marched while singing the slogans “We are not Red and White [the national flag of Indonesia],, we are Morning Star”, as well as shouting “Free Papua”.

Melvin said he and his party did not cause traffic. They only stopped in front of the Papua Police Headquarters, because they were arrested by the police. “We were lined up on the shoulder of the road but we did not make traffic. We also did not attack the officers,” he said.

Public Prosecutor, Achmad Kobarubun then asked Melvin Yobe and his friends to explain what they meant by shouting “Free Papua”. Melvin Yobe said Papua was already independent, with Benny Wenda as its president. However, Melvin Yobe and his friends do not know yet the structure of the Papuan government. Yobe also said that the territory of the state of Papua is from Sorong to Merauke, and that they will use the official language ‘Tok Pisin’.

The defendant’s legal advisor, Anum Latifah Siregar, further asked whether Melvin Yobe and his friends had ever seen or raised the Morning Star and were arrested, as well as the rules governing the Morning Star and whether there were sellers of bracelets or T-shirts bearing the Morning Star symbol were also arrested.

Melvin said he had raised the Morning Star three times, namely in 2019, he brought the Morning Star when he attended mass at the Good Shepherd Church in Jayapura City; in April 2021, when he raised the Morning Star at the Jayapura University of Science and Technology; and On December 1, 2021, which brought him and his friends to the court as they were alleged for treason.

Yobe also said he had never undergone a legal process regarding Morning Star flag raising in 2019 and April 2021. He was only arrested by the police after raising the Morning Star at Cenderawasih Sports Center on December 1, 2021. Further, Yobe said there were no rules prohibiting the raising of the Morning Star,

Presiding Judge RF Tampubolon decided to postpone the trial until Thursday, August 11, 2022. On Thursday, the trial will continue online with the agenda of reading the demands of the Public Prosecutor. (*)

Writer: News DeskEditor: News Desk

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https://en.antaranews.com/news/243365/second-booster-vaccinations-start-for-west-papua-health-workers

2) Second booster vaccinations start for West Papua health workers 

8 hours ago

Manokwari, W Papua (ANTARA) - Health workers in West Papua province have started to receive the fourth or second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination, head of the West Papua Provincial Health Office, Otto Parorongan, informed here on Monday.

The administration of the second booster vaccination is targeted at 8,584 health workers in the province, he said.

“At the launching (of the vaccination activity) today (Monday), a total of 100 health workers will get the fourth vaccine or the second booster. Later, it will be administered to all medical personnel in West Papua," he added.

The fourth dose needs to be provided six months after the third dose, he informed.


Related news: Some 56.8 million Indonesians administered COVID-19 booster shots
 

Currently, the second booster is still being prioritized for medical workers since they have a high risk of exposure to the disease, the office head said.

In accordance with the directive of Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the vaccine used in the first booster vaccination is being used for the second booster, he informed.

The second booster for health workers has been made available at all vaccination centers in the 13 districts/cities in the province, he said.

People who have not received the first, second, or third doses can also get inoculated at the vaccination centers.

Related news: Support efforts to raise booster vaccination coverage, citizens urged
 

"The coverage of COVID-19 vaccination among West Papuan health workers, as of August 7, 2022, reached 127.1 percent out of 8,584 health workers for the first dose, 116.7 percent for the second dose, and 73 percent for the third or first booster dose," Parorongan said.

The Health Ministry has been carrying out the second booster vaccination for health workers since July 29.

According to the ministry, the second booster vaccination is targeted to be administered to 1.9 million medical personnel across Indonesia.

Based on data accessed on the ministry’s website, as of August 8, the first dose has been provided to 2,034,632 health workers, the second dose to 1,983,942, and the third dose to 1,696,335 health workers.


Related news: COVID-19: 57.4 million Indonesians have received first booster shot

Related news: Second booster a national mission to protect health workers 

Reporter: Tri Santoso, Hans Kapisa, Uyu 
Editor: Fardah Assegaf

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https://www.ucanews.com/news/archbishop-prioritizes-education-health-in-indonesias-papua/98317

3) Archbishop prioritizes education, health in Indonesia’s Papua

Christian-majority Papua region suffers from the lowest literacy rate and an epidemic of malaria

 By Katharina Reny Lestari Published: August 08, 2022 10:23 AM GMT

A newly installed archbishop has vowed to prioritize education, healthcare and peace in Indonesia’s Christian-majority Papua region which suffers from illiteracy and poor health services.

Sacred Heart Archbishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi was installed as the new head of the Archdiocese of Merauke in South Papua on Aug. 7, two years after Pope Francis appointed him.

Archbishop Mandagi, 73, served as the bishop of Amboina Diocese in the conflict-scarred province of Maluku since 1994 before he was appointed to Merauke on Nov. 11, 2020.

Maluku experienced deadly sectarian conflicts between Christians and Muslims. According to the International Crisis Group, at least 5,000 people died in conflicts between 1999-2002 before the government sent about 14,000 troops to quell violence and restore peace.  

Indonesian Catholic bishops’ Commission for Social Communication live-streamed the installation Mass on YouTube from St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Church in Merauke led by the papal nuncio, Archbishop Piero Pioppo.

Archbishop Mandagi said he was scheduled to get the pallium (a white woolen band with pendants worn by archbishops) from Pope Francis on June 29 last year but failed to go to Rome due to the pandemic restrictions.

The prelate told UCA News on Aug. 8 that soon after his appointment he started pastoral services in Merauke.

“I didn’t want to wait, and I didn’t really care about when I would be installed. So, I directly started to make some improvements once I got here. I had to move,” he said.

He says his pastoral services focus on education as well as health and common welfare.

“I want to improve the Papuan people’s education because I want them to have a better future. It can only be reached through education. If I don’t do this, they can be marginalized. The Papuan people are not low-educated ones, they aren’t just given a chance yet,” he said.

He later mentioned close monitoring of Catholic schools and priestly formation as examples.

“The main issue is the competency of teachers. Their quality needs to be improved. The education character is very important. I also want to see more Papuan priests. A diocese will grow well only if it has many priests, particularly indigenous ones,” he said, adding that he has built four minor seminaries in different remote areas.

A 2021 study from Statista Research Department showed Papua province had a 78.89 percent literary rate among population above 15 years, the lowest among Indonesian provinces.

Referring to health and common welfare, he acknowledged that many still tended to live an unhealthy lifestyle and waste money.

“Merauke is rich with natural resources - fish, vegetables, rice. Still, the way people live their life needs to be improved so that they can prevent contracting diseases, including malaria,” he said.

The Annual Parasite Incidence’s latest data shows that an estimated 250,644 malaria cases occurred in Indonesia, 86 percent in the Papua region.

Archbishop Mandagi said the promotion of harmony is also important as many Muslims live in the diocesan area, which covers more than 30 parishes and serves about 180,000 Catholics.

“Building fraternity is needed. I want to make South Papua a ‘laboratory of peace.’ I don’t want local Catholics to act stupidly - fighting, killing, burning houses. These are acts of infidelity,” he said.

Daniel Taraneno from Christ the King Church in the Merauke district says the new archbishop can be “an inspirational figure who can bring peace to the society.”

“He has made some improvements following his arrival here. He has visited mission stations located in remote areas. This really makes us feel his presence despite his physical problem. His spirit motivates us,” he told UCA News.

He said that there is a growing presence of Muslims in the Catholic-majority area that has a sizable number of mosques.

“This is a threat to us. With his high spirit of nationalism and religious tolerance, I hope the prelate will be able to deal with the issue and promote religious tolerance. We want to live in peace and harmony,” he said.

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