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Injuries, arrests after police raid Kingmi Church office again
Institute for Papuan Advocacy & Human Rights – July 30, 2007
Yesterday the embattled Kingmi Church in West Papua was again violently occupied by Indonesian Police.
Three members of the Kingmi church in West Papua, Nason Uti (25 years), Leo Keiya (30 years) and Naftali Kobepa (26 years), were hospitalised and two others were wounded in an attack by the Indonesian security forces. Three other Church members were arrested by police and have now been released.
According to eyewitnesses, Police from the mobile paramilitary Police Brigade, Brimob, supported by members of the TNI (Indonesian military) forcibly entered the Kingmi Church Synod office and ransacking the offices, smashing windows and damaging church equipment.
The police and military actions followed a confrontation between members of the Kingmi church and a group reportedly from the Indonesian Tabernacle
Bible Church who want to gain control of the Kingmi church assets. The Indonesian Tabernacle Bible Church claim to the church had been previously supported by Police action.
This is the third time the Indonesian police have now occupied the Kingmi church synod office. Police also occupied the Church in December last year then again in May 2007. Both times they used excessive force to evict pastors and church workers. A decision in April 2007 by the Indonesian court recognising the Kingmi Synod's right to maintain control of the Church assets in West Papua.
The conflict appears to stems from a decision by the Kingmi Church to re-establish their own independent Synod in West Papua in 2006 and the advocacy work undertaken by the Kingmi church in relation to Human Rights in West Papua.
Paula Makabory from the Institute for Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights said "that the situation in West Papua appears to be rapidly deteriorating. The Indonesian police and military appear to be taking more repressive actions against community based organizations in West Papua.
"These repressive actions by the security forces follow statements by Col. Siagian and other senior Indonesian military personnel threatening and justifying the use of State violence against civilians, including those engaged in peaceful protest."
"The attack on the Kingmi church follows threatening action by the police against Rev. Sofyan Yoman, President of the Fellowship of Baptist Churches in West Papua who had a gun pointed at him by Indonesian police on Sunday."
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