“Our boat of life threatens to sink”

Papuan church leaders proclamated a theological declaration about the government´s failure concerning the governance and development of indigenous Papuans. In their joint theological declaration the UEM member church GKI-TP (Evangelical Church in West Papua) the Kingmi Church and the Baptist Church speak of a "genocide" and express their deep sorrow about the living conditions of the indigenous Papuans. They also offer self criticism by declaring to have kept silent too long. The pronounced to listen better to the sorrows of the people and rise their voices for them.

Dr Jochen Motte, UEM's Executive Secretary for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of creation, also criticised the indonesian politics. "Until now the autonomy law has not improved the Papuan opportunities to arrange their matters in a self-determined way as they hoped for. All attempts to set up an open dialogue betwen the Papuans and the Indonesian government in order to strenghthen the right on self determination have failed."