Papuan Church leaders threaten to quit NKRI over porn law

Detik.com – November 3, 2008
Papuan students protest against Anti-Pornography Law (Viva)

Laurencius Simanjuntak, Jakarta – Leaders from the Communion of Christian Churches (PGGK) covering five regencies and municipalities in West Papua province went to the House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday November 3 to declare their opposition to the recently enacted law on pornography. The leaders from the 40 Church denominations were received by DPR speaker Agung Laksono.

During the hour or so meeting, they expressed their opposition to the law, which was ratified on October 30, saying that it could destroy the diversity that has been built in Indonesia up until now.

“We hereby declare our opposition to Republic of Indonesia Law 2008 on Pornography,” said the head of the group Filep Mayor in reading out a statement at the DPR building in Senayan, Jakarta.

In addition to this, they although threatened to quit the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) if their demands are not met. “We will separate ourselves from the Indonesian state if this law is put into effect nationally”, added Mayor.

Another head of the delegation, Andrikus Mofu, said that the threat to leave the NKRI is a means of political bargaining against the policies implemented by the Indonesian government in relation to the ratification of the pornography law. “This is our political bargaining [chip] against the government in relation to the enactment of the pornography law”, explained Mofu.

Mofu added that if their demands are not met, they will take their complaints to the international community. “If our [demands] are not met, we will declare our wishes to the international community, to quit the Republic of Indonesia”, continued Mofu.

West Papua Regional House of Representatives speaker Jimmy Demiongus Ijie also took the opportunity to explain the historical role of the Church in the return of West Papua to Indonesia. As a result, he said, the voice of the Church is an important part of the aspirations of the entire Papuan people.

“The Church played an important role in the return of West Irian to the lap of the motherland. If the Church decides to leave, who could stop it”, asserted Ijie. (lrn/rdf)

[Translated by James Balowski.]