Seven Weeks of Prayer for Peace

CWS invites you to pray for peace with us through the seven weeks of Lent, an initiative of the Lutheran World Federation.  The campaign was launched on Ash Wednesday with a focus on Ukraine.  In the second week we prayed for Afghanistan.  In week 3 we prayed for Ethiopia and South Sudan.  This week we pray for West Papua.

Loving God

We pray for peace in West Papua

For the people of the land,

Those who speak its many languages

And know its forests, rivers, plants and animal life.

Loving God 

We pray for peace in West Papua

For people who do not have enough food,

Children who cannot go to school or walk safely in their neighbourhood,

Villagers living in fear of attack and those who have fled to the jungle.

Loving God 

We pray for peace in West Papua

For Philip Mehrtens, his family and friends, and for his captors,

Strength and protection for West Papuans facing daily harassment, violence and perhaps death,

An end to the military occupation and the exploitation of its rich resources.

We pray for the well-being of the people of the land and those who have come later.

Loving God 

We pray for peace in West Papua

We pray in the name of the One who is the source of life and peace
Amen

#7weeksforpeace

 

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Image: After their village in Pegunungan Bintang Regency was attacked by the Indonesian military on September 16, 2021, the people fled.   Three people who returned to the village were killed.  The villagers are too afraid to return to their villages and farms and are sheltering in the jungle, including this mother and child.  There are no schools, health services, or humanitarian assistance available.  Human rights monitors and humanitarian groups have been prohibited from the region by the Indonesian government.  Photo Credit:WCC

Tensions are rising in West Papua as the indigenous people seek to hold on to their culture, land and resources.  The widely criticised Act of Free Choice 1969 was used as the basis for giving Indonesia administration over the region.  Since that time Indonesia has relocated hundreds of thousands of people from other parts of the country to West Papua.  West Papuans live with a large military presence, increased human rights violations and little or no access to development.  In response, some have taken up arms and traditional weapons against Indonesia, while others have tried to use peaceful means to protect their people and land.  The struggle for independence is growing stronger.

New Zealand helicopter pilot Philip Mehrtens was captured by the West Papua Liberation Army (TPNPB) on February 7.    His captors are demanding that New Zealand support independence.  Church and community leaders have called for his release.  The New Zealand Government is working for his release and has asked the Indonesian government not to intervene militarily,

We partner with the Pacific Conference of Churches which has four member churches in West Papua or Tannah Papua.  It actively advocates for its reinstatement on the United Nations list for decolonisation – non-self-governing territories.  Last year PCC called for a boycott of Indonesian goods and programmes in response to the failure of the Indonesian government to allow representatives from the UNHCHR – United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

The World Council of Churches is following the situation and advocating for the people.

March 17, 2023