Pastor of St. Johannes and Petrus Parish, Argapura, Jayapura Diocese, Pater Paulus Tumayong (left) – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – Pastor of St. Johannes and Petrus Parish, Argapura, Jayapura Diocese, Pater Paulus Tumayong said he and President Joko Widodo attended the National Christmas event held in Mandala Stadium, Jayapura on 27 December 2014. In his speech, the president promised to solve the Paniai case thoroughly.
“If a president, the number one person in the Republic of Indonesia said so, therefore his staffers must take actions on it,” said Pater Tumayong to Jubi after the prayer to commemorate the 1st Anniversary of Paniai Blood case at St. Joseph Hall, Fajar Timur Philosophy of Theology Institute (STFT) on Tuesday (08/12/2015).
However, he wondered why it still couldn’t be settled while it has passed for a year? Is there an extraordinary power causing a deadlock on this case?
“It’s not only occurred to Paniai case, but many violence cases in Papua have not thoroughly revealed. There is an impression that those cases are deliberately forgotten and gone at the end. So, this event is our attempt to solve the case, to fight against forgetting,” he said.
He said his participation to voice the revelation of Paniai Blood case with other humanitarian organizations is to fight the truth and justice that is the mission of the creator, the God’s mission.
“It made me taking part in this humanitarian event. Because of the Church through the priest was asked to fight for truth and justice and must dare to voice the injustice occurred among the people,” he told Jubi on Tuesday (08/12/15) in Jayapura.
Therefore, he said, sometimes ago he and his colleagues of Franciscan Order and some from other organizations conducted a rally, it was because they were driven to the fact they are living in comfort in the rectory.
“My heart was driven because I live in comfort with luxurious facilities in the rectory. So, I asked myself, the call upon me to become a pastor, whether it is only a call to speak on the altar? Or should I come to ground to voice the silenced people? Therefore, I come out of the rectory and join into this activity,” Tumayong said.
The Coordinator of SKP HAM Papua, Peneas Lokbere said SKP urged the President Joko Widodo to immediately enforce the Ad Hoc team to resolve the Paniai case (8/12/2014).
He stated the National Human Right Committee to not use the autopsy and lack of funding as the reason for not revealing the case. “State is responsible to the recent and past human right violation cases that occurred in Papua.”
Jubi observed that in the event, some students performed a short play of the story on the killing of 4 high school students in Paniai and the brothers from Franciscan Order recited poem of tragedy.
Lokbere added that SKP HAM would conduct a peace rally on Thursday (10/12/2015). They would do long march from the front of the Catholic Church Gembala Baik in Abepura to Papua Parliament Office in Jayapura.
“We already sent a letter to the Police for permit. And after the rally at the Parliament Office and continue to light the candle at Taman Imbi, Jayapura City as a symbol of mourning,” he said. (Abeth You/rom)
