On Sunday morning, 9 March 2025, two indigenous Papuans using customary clothes attended the worship at the cathedral in Merauke (see photo on top, source: independent HRD). Upon their arrival around 7:15 a.m., they were approached by a woman who identified herself as the head of security for the cathedral parish, as well as a member of the Merauke Police. The woman asked if they intended to make offerings, to which they responded that they had come to worship. Not feeling satisfied with their answer, the woman continued asking why they had come using their traditional clothing. The woman insisted that the men should not sit in front of the church, claiming their presence would scare other worshippers. They were directed to sit elsewhere and told not to wear traditional clothes if they wanted to attend the worship.
After the service, the two men were asked to meet with the pastor in a separate room, where they found themselves surrounded by several police officers, who were dressed casually, and the female police officer who had asked them not to wear customary clothes at church. The pastor began the meeting sternly, stating that they must answer honestly or risk being cursed. He questioned the men about whether they had been sent to attend the service by anyone and why they had chosen to wear traditional attire. The pastor criticized their clothing, saying it was inappropriate for worship, emphasizing that traditional dress should only be worn for special occasions. He advised the group not to wear traditional attire for worship, reiterating that they should dress in proper, modern clothes instead.
The pastor further elaborated that the population in Merauke was culturally heterogenic, unlike Java, where worship could incorporate local customs and use of the Javanese language. He stressed that issues like the PSN (National Strategic Project) should be raised at the appropriate government offices, not in the church.
Background
In October 2024, the Archbishop of Merauke, Mgr. Petrus C. Mandagi officially declared his support for the central Government’s plan to create at least a one-million-hectare rice field in the Merauke Regency, Papua Selatan Province. The project violates the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), a fundamental right of indigenous peoples. Local indigenous Malind communities report that their lands, hamlets, and customary forests have been seized without any prior deliberation or consensus. This blatant disregard for indigenous rights is further exacerbated by the presence of armed military personnel involved in implementing and securing the project.
Bishop Mandagi’s controversial statement received a negative (angry) response from indigenous Catholics throughout West Papua. The indigenous Malind people, holding the customary land rights in the project area, have firmly rejected all forms of corporate investment on their customary lands. Indigenous communities have expressed deep concerns about the potential loss of their lands, forests, and cultural heritage to large-scale development projects.
