A DAY of prayer and action in parishes throughout Australia is planned to protest against acts of violence in West Papua including an attack at a Franciscan friary and seminary.
Brisbane archdiocese’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) hopes the call will encourage the Australian Government to take a stand over any violence by Indonesian military.
CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt said there had been two major incidents of violence “last month alone”.
“On October 10, around 8000 workers from the Freeport Mine were at a public meeting in the town of Timika,” he said.
“This was part of their continuing industrial action seeking a pay increase from US$1.50 to $12.50 an hour.”
Mr Arndt said that, as a result of alleged action by Indonesian security forces against a group of workers listening to speeches, one of the workers, Petrus Ayamsemba, was killed and several others were injured and taken to hospital.
The second incident, which involved deaths and violence on Church property, occurred on October 19 in Abepura’s Zakheus Field after the Third Papua People’s Congress.
The Zakheus Field is in the grounds of a compound which includes the Fajar Timur School of Philosophy and Theology, the Sang Surya Franciscan Friary, the John Maria Vianey Diocesan Seminary, the Jerusalem Baru Inter-Diocesan Seminary, and associated student dormitories and staff residences.
Mr Arndt said that, about 90 minutes after the congress had finished, armed Indonesian security forces intervened against unarmed civilians who were participating in post-Congress festivities.
“The violent attack was a delayed response to the reading of a declaration of independence and the appointment of a president and prime minister at the end of the congress,” he said.
“A number of unarmed West Papuans were killed during this onslaught.
“Police and soldiers also (were alleged to have) pursued people fleeing from the shooting and fired shots and tear gas into the nearby friary, seminaries, theological school and dormitories.”
Mr Arndt said the CJPC was urging Australian Christians to show their solidarity with the people of West Papua by:
– Praying on one or more of the Sundays in November or December for dialogue and action leading to peace and justice for the people of West Papua
– Sending messages of support and solidarity to Church leaders in West Papua
– Contacting the Prime Minister, the Foreign Affairs Minister, MPs and Senators to urge them to take decisive and urgent steps to promote peace and respect for human rights in West Papua.
