Papuan priest Izaak Bame, new vicar of Manokwari-Sorong diocese

A joyful news has filled the hearts of West Papuan Christians:

Fr. Izaak Bame

On March 15, Father Izaak Bame, a West Papuan human rights defender, was appointed Vicar of the Manokwari-Sorong diocese, one of the five Church territories in Indonesian occupied West Papua.

"Father Izaak is one of the senior Papuan priests who has always consistently spoken and fought for humanity and peace in West Papua". declared Markus Haluk, secretary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua - ULMWP. 

Defending the oppressed people of West Papua

The facts: Fr. Izaak's name recently surfaced in Papuan local media as he decried the inhumane conditions of war refugees, especially in the Maybrat area in the far west of West Papua, who have not returned to their home villages due to the armed conflict between the Indonesian military and West Papuan guerillas. 

It is estimated that between 60,000 and 100,000 civilians have been displaced across West Papua since 2018. While the Indonesian government claims that most of these IDPs have returned home, NGOs and local churches strongly dispute this.

Denouncing the hypocrisy of pro Jakarta Papuan elites 

Fr. Izaak also criticized the hypocrisy of Papuan elites supported by Jakarta, such as Apolo Safampo, Governor of South Papua, who on October 21 last year, went to the Vatican to speak about "Papua Land of Peace" at a summit. The facts on the ground refute such claim.

"I, together with all indigenous Papuans, feel sad that Doctor Apolo Safampo went abroad only to add to the list of lies in the international world related to the situation in Papua", exclaimed Fr. Izaak matter-of-factly.

Ever onward, never retreat Padre!

For West Papuan freedom fighters and solidarity groups, Fr. Izaak's appointment as the number two person in the Diocese of Manokwari-Sorong is expected to encourage the Catholic church to be more vocal in voicing the six-decade-long humanitarian crisis in West Papua due to the Indonesian military occupation.

Congratulations on your new assignment Padre Izaak, Jesus Christ and the people of West Papua are with you.

Letter of notification from the diocese of Manokwari-Sorong
regarding the appointment of Fr. Izaak Bame as vicar general.