Jakarta, Sinar Harapan, 23 May 2002

The central government has failed so far to agree to meet seven top-level religious leaders from West Papua 

The central government has failed so far to agree to meet seven top-level religious leaders from West Papua who have come to Jakarta hoping to meet Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri, police chief General Pol Da'i Bachtiar, Interior Minister Hari Sabarno, Minister-Coordinator for Security and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dan Attorney General MA Rahman.

These seven very influential religious leaders from West Papua came to Jakarta because they want to convey the hopes of the West Papuan people with regard to resolving cases of human rights violations, including the killing of Theys Hiyo Eluay, chair of the Papuan Presidium Council, and the arrival in West Papua of Laskar Jihad members under the umbrella of Forum Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaah in Sorong and Fak Fak.

The seven religious leaders are H.Zubair DG Husain (MUI , Ulamas Council, Jayapura), Rev Herman Saud (head of the Protestant GKI), Leo Laba, OFM (Bishop of Jayapura), Rev John Gobay (head of Pprotestant GKII), Rev A.Ayomi (head of Pantekosta church), Rev Ruben F.Weohau (head of Bethel Indonesia), Rev Misten Tawolah (head of GDI).

Letters requesting meetings with top state officials were sent on 14 May . Their intention was to go to Jakarta only after receiving answers from the officials but because there was so much pressure from the community, reaching a peak with a demonstration outside the regional assembly building on 18 May, they decided to go to Jakarta on 20 May. 

The only reply received from the Interior Minister's office was that the minister had gone to Central Java and would be out of town till Wednesday. All they were told by the offices of the coordinating minister for political and security affairs, the national police chief and the attorney general was that no decision had been taken about meeting the mission. This despite the fact that they had said they would also be willing to meet more junior officials. 

Ruben F.Weohau told Sinar Harapan on Thursday that the religious leaders were deeply disappointed by the lack of response from the central government, and now they just want to go back home to Papua. Asked what they would do now, Weohau said 'What more can we do? And what are we going to tell the people back home?'