Thursday, December 1, 2011
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
PAPUA, INDONESIA, (ANS) – A UK-based Christian human rights group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says that it “remains deeply concerned at the plight of the Papuan people following reports of an alleged crackdown by Indonesian military and police on religious ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of West Papuan independence from the Dutch.”
The anniversary was marked around the region by religious ceremonies, including the raising of the Papuan “Morning Star” flag, a symbol of independence.
The Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman, Chairman of the Alliance of Papuan Baptist Churches, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that several people taking part in flag-raising ceremonies have been shot and others arrested by Indonesian security forces.
He stated, “We are here. How can they do this? We are the owners of this land. How can these outside people, these outside people be coming in and killing, arrest and torture us continually?”
CSW says that according to media reports, in one religious ceremony in Timika Indah field, four civilians
By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
PAPUA, INDONESIA, (ANS) – A UK-based Christian human rights group, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) says that it “remains deeply concerned at the plight of the Papuan people following reports of an alleged crackdown by Indonesian military and police on religious ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of West Papuan independence from the Dutch.”
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| A Papuan protester, with his cheek displaying the banned Morning Star flag, takes part in a rally (AFP, Bay Ismoyo) |
The Reverend Socratez Sofyan Yoman, Chairman of the Alliance of Papuan Baptist Churches, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that several people taking part in flag-raising ceremonies have been shot and others arrested by Indonesian security forces.
He stated, “We are here. How can they do this? We are the owners of this land. How can these outside people, these outside people be coming in and killing, arrest and torture us continually?”
CSW says that according to media reports, in one religious ceremony in Timika Indah field, four civilians
