Prayer of the West Papua Council of Churches 12 February 2022

“On the 167th Anniversary of the Gospel Entering the Land of Papua, We Are Not Safe in Our Land”

Lord, today is the 5th February, 2022, and we Papuans are witnessing the celebration of the 167th anniversary of the Gospel Entering the Land of Papua being held by the government. However, we ask forgiveness from You Lord because we have failed to carry out our pastoral duties. 

It can be seen that we Papuans are almost extinct after being part of this country for the last 60 years. Many Papuans continue to be killed through large-scale military operations and also through disease outbreaks without our voice speaking out. Today there are 60,000 refugees living in fear and uncertainty. The state does not pay attention to the fate of the refugees, they are displaced without food, shelter and health care.

They were forcibly evicted from their home villages in Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak Papua, Maybrat, Kiwirok in Star Mountains, and Suru suru in Yahukimo. To this day it is uncertain when they will return to their villages. 

Their villages have been shut off and occupied by military forces. Instead of guaranteeing security and giving hope to refugees, remilitarization has taken place by building new district military posts in Intan Jaya, Nduga, Lany Jaya, Yalimo, Star Mountains, Tambrauw Yahukimo, and Maybrat.

We see that the military operation, the construction of the district military postsand the division of the Provinces are tactics by the Government to implement a program to transfer millions of people from outside Papua to Papua, as promoted by Hendro Priyono, the former chairman of BIN (The State Intelligence Agency).

Lord, right now the lives of Papuans are being messed with by the interests of the State, encouraged by the fervor of Racism, Fascism and injustice. The politics of domination continues, Special Autonomy is forced to continue, even though Papuans have rejected Special Autonomy. Not only that, Lord, but they also have forced the division of current provinces into 6 new provinces. 

Armed conflict continues to be maintained in order to ensure the seizure of our lands. All our lands are being seized for capitalist interests and large-scale investments. Meanwhile, when Papuans call out against this, they are arrested. Papuans are almost extinct.

How can we Papuans sing God's song of praise at this year's celebrations, while we are experiencing all the suffering that we have shared? We are like 

the Israelites who were exiled and who wept by the river of Babylon, asking for God's help. We feel sad because this year the date of February 5th has been robbed by the State while our people are suffering in our land. The State celebrates this day to cover up State crimes against it’s people, and they have lied and plundered the Papuans right to life.

Lord, if the situation is like this, who can we complain to? We can only cry out to you, to call for the safety of our people in the Land of Papua.

Here we are Lord, see Your servants who are praying.

Jayapura, 5 February 2022

Pendeta Beny Giyai (Moderator) 

Pendeta Dorman Wandikbo (Member)

Pendeta Socrates S. Yoman (Anggota) 

Pendeta Andrikus Mofu (Anggota)

Three people killed by West Papua rebels in disputed clash

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Papua
on Sunday, state-news agency Antara reported. Photo: AFP

Three people were killed by rebels in Indonesia's West Papua on Friday, ahead of a presidential visit to the troubled region over the weekend.

Indonesia's military claims the dead were civilian motorcycle taxi drivers, while the West Papua Liberation Army says they were soldiers.

The incident in Intan Jaya district is one of many disputed clashes between rebels and the state in Papua's Central Highlands to take place since December.

Military spokesperson Eko Daryanto was quoted by state media saying the three drivers were shot dead, before their bodies were hacked at with machetes.

A report from the pro-independence Liberation Army said the soldiers they claimed to have killed died during a shootout.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited Papua on Sunday, state-news agency Antara reported.

Source: RNZ

Thousands of West Papuan students return home over safety fears

Over 2000 West Papuan university students have returned home from Indonesian cities since last month over safety fears.

Protesters march in Jayapura. Photo: Whens Tebay

Racist harassment of Papuan students in university dormitories in Javanese cities last month sparked weeks of widespread protests and unrest in Papua.

While Indonesian police have started investigations into the harassment, many students claim they continue to face threats and feel unsafe.

As of Monday, 2047 students had been recorded by Papua's provincial government as having left their studies to return to their home region since August.

The majority of the students are from Highlands regencies in Papua.

Last month, in response to the harassment, Papua's Governor Lukas Enembe offered support to students who wished to return home from Java.