Indonesian Police move to close Kingme Church
Press Release: 14 May 2007
Reports from the Kingmi Church in Jayapura, West Papua, today indicate that the Indonesian Police working with the members of the GKII Church from Jakarta have moved to illegally occupy & close the Kingmi Church Synod.
It is reported that this afternoon (1300 Jayapura time) that members of the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) GKII have attacked and savagely beaten members of the Kingmi church in the street outside the Synod.
The members of the Kingmi Church who were reported injured are Zepanya Agapa 27, Albeert Keiya 35, Nason Uti 26 and Yoakim Mote 27. There was no violence from the Kingmi Church members.
Indonesian Police are said to have stood by looking on while the incident occurred.
The Kingmi church leader Rev Benny Giay and others have now (13.15 Jayapura Time) moved to block the road in front of the Synod Office.
Members of the Church said today that the Indonesian Police are acting illegally.
During the New Year period earlier this year the Indonesian Police tried to seize the assets of the Kingmi Church and assaulted and injured church staff.
The Indonesian GKII had previously sought to seize the Kingmi church assets after the Kingmi Church had re established an independent Synod in West Papua.
An Indonesian court handed down a decision on 30 April 2007, which denied the GKII claim to the Kingmi assets and supported the right of the existence of the Kingmi Church in West Papua.
At the time of the first police action at New Year, Benny Giay and other members of the Kingmi Church were able to make an agreement with the Indonesian Police that the assets should not be seized until after the findings o the GKII legal action.
Matthew Jamieson spokesperson for the Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights said sources on the ground said today, “It is not clear what has the motivated the Indonesian Police to try to undertake this action. But is seems to be an action outside the law by the Indonesian authorities to force closure of the Kingmi church in West Papua. It seems to be an attempt to silence people and institutions who are critical of the Indonesian Governments treatment of West Papua people.”
Matthew Jamieson said, “The Kingmi Church has the largest number of indigenous Papuan of any church in West Papua with 47 parishes.”
“ I know that many Kingmi members and clergy are involved in civil society campaigns for Peace & Justice in West Papua. Most members of the Kingmi church live in the highland areas of West Papua where Indonesian repression is the greatest.”
Those sources at the Kingmi church office said today “Members of the Kingmi church are amongst the large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons, who have fled Indonesian military operations in the mountainous Panai and Pucak Jaya regions.’”
Kingmi church was formed in West Papua from the work of American missionaries, The Christian Missionary Alliance. It is understood that the Christain Missionary Alliance supports the GKII (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) in its attempt to take control of the Kingmi Church .
Media inquiries please contact:
Rev Benny Giay on tel +62 852 44373166 or
Paula Makabory on tel +61 402547517 or
Matthew Jamieson on tel +61 418291998
Reports from the Kingmi Church in Jayapura, West Papua, today indicate that the Indonesian Police working with the members of the GKII Church from Jakarta have moved to illegally occupy & close the Kingmi Church Synod.
It is reported that this afternoon (1300 Jayapura time) that members of the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) GKII have attacked and savagely beaten members of the Kingmi church in the street outside the Synod.
The members of the Kingmi Church who were reported injured are Zepanya Agapa 27, Albeert Keiya 35, Nason Uti 26 and Yoakim Mote 27. There was no violence from the Kingmi Church members.
Indonesian Police are said to have stood by looking on while the incident occurred.
The Kingmi church leader Rev Benny Giay and others have now (13.15 Jayapura Time) moved to block the road in front of the Synod Office.
Members of the Church said today that the Indonesian Police are acting illegally.
During the New Year period earlier this year the Indonesian Police tried to seize the assets of the Kingmi Church and assaulted and injured church staff.
The Indonesian GKII had previously sought to seize the Kingmi church assets after the Kingmi Church had re established an independent Synod in West Papua.
An Indonesian court handed down a decision on 30 April 2007, which denied the GKII claim to the Kingmi assets and supported the right of the existence of the Kingmi Church in West Papua.
At the time of the first police action at New Year, Benny Giay and other members of the Kingmi Church were able to make an agreement with the Indonesian Police that the assets should not be seized until after the findings o the GKII legal action.
Matthew Jamieson spokesperson for the Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights said sources on the ground said today, “It is not clear what has the motivated the Indonesian Police to try to undertake this action. But is seems to be an action outside the law by the Indonesian authorities to force closure of the Kingmi church in West Papua. It seems to be an attempt to silence people and institutions who are critical of the Indonesian Governments treatment of West Papua people.”
Matthew Jamieson said, “The Kingmi Church has the largest number of indigenous Papuan of any church in West Papua with 47 parishes.”
“ I know that many Kingmi members and clergy are involved in civil society campaigns for Peace & Justice in West Papua. Most members of the Kingmi church live in the highland areas of West Papua where Indonesian repression is the greatest.”
Those sources at the Kingmi church office said today “Members of the Kingmi church are amongst the large numbers of Internally Displaced Persons, who have fled Indonesian military operations in the mountainous Panai and Pucak Jaya regions.’”
Kingmi church was formed in West Papua from the work of American missionaries, The Christian Missionary Alliance. It is understood that the Christain Missionary Alliance supports the GKII (The Tabernacle Bible Church of Indonesia) in its attempt to take control of the Kingmi Church .
Media inquiries please contact:
Rev Benny Giay on tel +62 852 44373166 or
Paula Makabory on tel +61 402547517 or
Matthew Jamieson on tel +61 418291998
posted by Pax Christi @ Monday, May 14, 2007
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