Benny Wenda : Mixing Religious Conflict with Political Interest

It has been more than two months since we posted the last article. Last July, a mosque and some kiosks were burned by some Christian youths affiliated to GIDI (Gereja Injili Di Indonesia or Evangelical Church of Indonesia) in Tolikara. Tolikara Regent Usman Wanimbo had confirmed to the Human Rights National Comission the existence of a local bylaw that limited the practice of certain religions. The local police had to take action to stop the rioters attacking the Muslims. Twelve rioters were injured by police gunfire while a teenager was shot dead. On 24 July, the police arrested two people, Jundi Wanimbo and Arianto Kogoya, for instigating the riot.

Photos from the mosque burning incident in Tolikara

Arianto Kogoya arrested for instigating the riot

We do not want to continue the religious conflict which happen in Tolikara but we are really disappointed with Benny Wenda's statement over Tolikara incident. His statement sounds very subjective and hateful. It should not be said by a former Nobel Peace Prize candidate (he actually does not deserve it). Here is the statement from Benny Wenda :

"We West Papuans have an entirely peaceful, united political struggle for independence. Our problems are with Indonesia’s illegal occupation of our country, not between Christians or Muslims. My people have always live peacefully side by side with all Papuans of different faiths but the Indonesian police and military have always wanted and always tried to stir up religious conflict to draw the world’s attention away from our freedom struggle. My people will show the world that we will not be provoked and we will continue to stand united and peaceful in our struggle for freedom. We want the free nation of West Papua to be for all Papuans, whatever religion but it is the Indonesian troops, not Papuans who are causing violence to try and divide and rule the country."

What a naive statement! Here we can see that Benny Wenda tried to deny the fact that there was horizontal conflict in West Papua. He tried to connect every incident in West Papua to Indonesian government. He tried to inform that there is only vertical conflict between the Indonesia government and West Papua people, there never be horizontal conflict between the West Papuans. His hatred to Indonesia has caused him lose his mind. A horizontal conflict, like tribal conflict or religious conflict, can happen anywhere and anytime in the world. Although we do not want any horizontal conflicts happen in West Papua, we have to admit that the fact there was horizontal conflict in West Papua.

As a radical Christian, Benny Wenda tried to convince that it was not the church's fault. It has been clear that it was the church's fault. The church published an announcement to restrict the Muslims in Tolikara doing Eid prayer. Let us imagine, how if the rioters were Muslims and the victims were Christians? He would say that it was part of Indonesian government's Islamization program, there was no religious freedom in Indonesia, it was attack to our Christianity, etc. So who is the real one who always tries to stir up religious conflict for political interest? You can see it by yourself. Here is the announcement which published by GIDI :

The announcement was signed by GIDI's preacher for Tolikara Area, Nayus Wenea, and its secretary, Marthen Jingga. Here are the translation of the three points of the announcement :

1. Opening Eid Mubarak ceremony on 17 July 2015, we do not allow it be held in Tolikara (Karubaga) Regency Area

2. Holding the holiday outside of Tolikara (Wamena) or Jayapura is allowed

3. The Muslim women are not allowed wearing headscarf

The past let be the past. Now we have to look forward and face the future together. The reconciliation between GIDI and the Muslims have been made. The riot instigators have been arrested and punished under Indonesia's law. Let this incident be a valuable lesson for us to keep interfaith harmony in West Papua, in Indonesia, even in the world. As a warning for Benny Wenda, we want to say : "Stop making any conflicts in West Papua more complicated with your political interest! You are in the UK now, not in West Papua! Please go and enjoy your life there!"

Yunus Wenda (a GIDI preacher) and Ali Muktar (a Muslim imam) making a reconciliation over religious conflict in Tolikara