Church leaders in Indonesia’s conflict-hit Papua region have backed calls by Pacific nations for Jakarta to facilitate a long-delayed visit by the United Nations human rights chief. Source: UCA News.
Fr Alexandro Rangga, director of the Franciscan Office for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation in Papua, said the Church agency fully supports the appeal made by the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.
“Let the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights come and see the situation firsthand,” Fr Rangga said yesterday.
“Every day, we in the Church meet people who have been displaced, who have lost family members and who are afraid to live in their own villages. That is real, not a story,” he added.
Rather than continuing to contradict one another, he said, “it would be better for an independent party to come and assess conditions on the ground.”
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale told the UN General Assembly on September 25 that reports of abuses in Papua had persisted for too long and should be independently verified.
While affirming respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr Wale urged Jakarta to facilitate the visit “without further delay,” renewing a call made by Pacific Islands Forum leaders in 2019.
Vanuatu’s UN envoy, Odo Tevi, made a similar appeal on September 28 and raised concerns about Indigenous rights, displacement, cultural rights, environmental harm and the treatment of human rights defenders.
Fr Rangga said Jakarta should facilitate the mission as an Indonesian diplomat, Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro, serves as president of the UN Human Rights Council in 2026.
He also called for fewer troops in villages, safe conditions for displaced people to return, access for journalists and humanitarian agencies, and serious dialogue with Papuans.
“The UN visit is only a beginning,” he said. “What we want is simple: people in Papua, whatever their ethnicity or religion, should be able to live peacefully without fear.”
Rev. Stevanus Wenda, chairman of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in West Papua, backed the statements.
Minister Counsellor Nona Gae Luna, speaking for Indonesia during its right of reply at the UN General Assembly, rejected what she called selective allegations.
Ms Luna said arrangements for a visit must be agreed between the host government and the UN human rights office, not set by another country or regional body.
FULL STORY
Churches back call for UN rights chief visit to Papua in Indonesia (UCA News)
