Church Leaders Denounce Violence in Timika

Timika (Antara Bali) - The Catholic churches of the Timika Diocese, Papua, strongly denounce recent spate of violence in the district lately.

Pastor Amandus Rahadat Pr of the parish of Tiga Raja in  Timika described as "very shameful" the murder of two people in Sempan coinciding with the Good Friday commemoration.

Father Amandus said the conflict greatly saddening especially as it involved people belonging to the same Kei tribe which  was the first to bring Catholic faith to Mimika and Papua in general.

"The behavior of the Kei people in Sempan is very much shameful,"  Pastor Amandus said.

Pastor Amandus expressed deep concern that the Kei people in Timika are getting more brutal.

A number of Kei people have been involved violence such as the attack on people of the Kamoro tribe in Nawaripi, the conflict among prospectors  in Kali Kabur (Aijkwa river) leaving six people dead and most recently the conflict among Kei people claiming two lives last week.

"I am deeply concerned. The forefathers of the Kei people must be crying in their graves. The forefather of Kei people preached Gospel in this land and they were peace loving. Now the Key people are inciting war , violence bringing death to this land," he said. (*/DWA)