Statement of position and appeal by religious leaders in Papua to the Attorney-General concerning the Abepura case of December 2000]

Jayapura, 10 April 2002

The Attorney-General
Republic of Indonesia
Jakarta

Greetings,

Please permit us, the religious leaders in Papua, to convey our view and position concerning the Abepura case of 7 December 2000. In connection with developments in this case on which a comprehensive file was handed to the Attorney-General in August 2001, and in light of the recent decision (April 2002) to send an investigative team to Papua we state the following:

1) We are both surprised and disappointed that the processing of this case has been delayed for so very long. From August 2001 to early April 2002 is a lengthy period of time for no action to have been taken on this case, even though a complete report on it has already been submitted.

2) Despite our surprise and disappointment, we both welcome and appreciate and indeed support the Attorney-General’s initiative to send an investigative team to Papua to carry out an official inquiry. For our part, there is the impression that the Judiciary still views seriously the outstanding need to deal with the Abepura case.

3) Our immediate support comes with the very urgent request and expectation that this process should not be impeded or interrupted by a further long delay. On the contrary the process must be dealt with promptly and smoothly to reach its conclusion in the courts.

4) The people have already suffered greatly from the injustice, the interruption of the authorities to the proper law enforcement, which has resulted in a loss of faith in the Government, in those who are charged with upholding justice, and indeed in the Attorney General itself.

5) Given this, we hope that a thorough investigation of the Abepura case will be signal proof that the Government and in particular the Attorney General is serious about upholding justice and that it wishes to develop a transparent and authoritative national institution committed to impartiality, security and harmony. We expect that the Attorney General will act professionally, objectively, honestly, fairly and openly in its handling of the case.

6) May the Almighty bless with wisdom and strength all those associated with the Attorney-General of the Republic of Indonesia in the performance of their duty to uphold the law for the sake of truth and justice.

Finally, we thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Rev Herman Saud, MTh Mgr Leo Laba Ladjar, ofm
Synod Chair, Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) Bishop of Jayapura

Rev John Gobay Rev A.Yanengga
Synod Chair, Christian Missionary Church (GKII) Acting Chair, 
Baptist Churches

Rev Mestian Towolom Rev Yuridis Daely 
Evengelical Church of Indonesia (GIDI) Sacred Word Christian Church

Rev Andreas Ayomi Rev Roebyn Weohau 
Pentecostal Church of Papua Adventist Church of Indonesia

Iman Zubeir D. Hussein
Chair, Islamic Council (MUI) Papua

Copies to: 
Governor of Papua
Chair DPRD Papua
Kapolda Papua
Pangdam XVII/ TRIKORA
KAJATI Papua
Rector Cenderawasih University