Papua bishop must be brave

Papua Bishop Yanuarius You with Markus Haluk, current secretary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua - ULMWP, July 2023. 

These days, Msgr Yanuarius Matopai You has been highlighted by local media in Papua.

As the only indigenous Papuan bishop, Msgr. Yanuarius You has been active in the crusade against the seizure of indigenous lands for the benefit of the Indonesian colonial government and various private companies.

A priest against all odds

Born in Paniai on January 1, 1961, during the early days of the Indonesian invasion of Papua, Yanuarius You was the son of Catholic teacher Lukas You. 

The story of young Yanuarius' vocation to the priesthood is both unique and controversial given that he wanted to be a priest against the tradition of his tribe: as the first boy born in his family, he was supposed to marry.

Ordained a priest in 1991, Father Yanuarius You was known as an honest shepherd and dedicated to the poor. His ordination on February 2, 2022 as the first indigenous Papuan bishop was warmly welcomed by all Papuans as a new ray of hope.

Fighting injustice: a priority

Unlike other bishops in Papua who are Indonesian, Msgr You has been vocal in defending the rights of indigenous Papuans despite intimidations.

Without openly favoring an independent Papua, Bishop You has led a non-violent resistance. He makes regular pastoral visits to urge the indigenous communities not to sell their land for whatever reason. 

He encourages them to return to noble traditional values and live off the land. Most uniquely, he called for peace by ringing the bells of the churches in his diocese at every 3pm. A number of non-Catholic churches also followed suit.

The Church, the ultimate hope of Papuans 

Ambrosius Mulait, a young Papuan Catholic leader, hopes that the Papuan bishop will dare to do more to save his people from extinction:

"Everything Bishop Motopai has said and done responds to the desire of God's people in Papua. For 62 years the Indonesian State has ignored the voices of Papuans and then suppressed them with various stigmas and threats. It is time for the Church to speak out to save its sheeps slaughtered through six decades of Indonesian state violence in Papua. If the Church does not move, then Papuans will lose hope. The Church is the only foundation for Papuans."

For Ambrosius and other young Papuan Catholic activists, the Papuan bishop has a moral obligation to bring the situation of human rights violations in Papua to the attention of the Pope.

Papuans don't trust the Indonesian Bishops' Conference 

Many Papuans hope Msgr. Yanuarius You has the courage to ask the Pope's permission to leave the Indonesian Bishops' Conference. The latter is nothing more than an extension of the Indonesian regime under the guise of the Church.

Papuan Catholics are still traumatized by the statement of Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, senior of the Indonesian Catholic Church, who openly supports the Indonesian colonial government in Papua:

"The official Catholic church's stance on the Papua issue is very clear, which is to support the government's stance, because it is guaranteed by international law." 

Papuan bishop must oppose Indonesian colonialism 

For the sake of truth and justice, Mgr Yanuarius You as the only indigenous Papuan Bishop must dare to resist, following the example of Mgr Albertus Soegijapranata, the first Indonesian bishop who opposed the Dutch during the Indonesian war of independence (1945-1949) and Bishop Ximenes Belo who denounced Indonesia's colonization of Timor Leste (1975-1999).

Song "Wamena Aget" 

The land of Wamena has a story that you must know, 

if you continue to sell land, 

you will become a guest in your own country,

you will be evicted to another place,

you are the host but you will be expelled, 

you must know the meaning of land ownership.