Jayapura, Jubi - Regarding the shooting incident in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province which killed Rufinus Tigau and injured a child named Herman Kobagau, on Monday (26/10/2020), Timika Diocese confirmed that Rufinus Tigau was right oneCatechist working at Stasi Jalae Catholic Church.“Rufinus has been working as a catechist at Saint Michaelel Bilogai Parish since 2015.rufinus was appointed as a catechist by the parish priest of Saint Michaelel Bilogai, Father Yustinus Rahangier Pr, replacing the dead catechist, Mr. Frans Wandagau, ”explained the Diocesan Administrator for Timika diocese, Pastor Marthen Kuayo, as stated in a press release received by Jubi atJayapura, Papua, Tuesday (27/10/2020).Furthermore, Pastor Marthen Kuayo said Rufinus helped the Pastor in Jalae Parish because the pastor who served in Jalae was not a local person so he did not understand the local language and other matters related to the local cultural context.
Before the shooting of Rufinus, said Father Marthen Kuayo, a catechist at the Emondi Stasi Church, Agustinus Duwitau (who was sworn in after Rufinus' inauguration) was also shot by security forces on 7 October 2020.
Augustine is shot down on his way to Emondi. currently Agustinus is still undergoing treatment because of the gunshot wound he sustained.
"Parishes or churches always need people who go to school or can read and write to become preachers like Rafinus," said Pasor Kuayo.
In worship every Sunday, said Pastor Kuayo, preachers also stand in front of the pulpit together with the pastor. because the pastor reads the Bible and preaches in Indonesian, the preacher immediately translates orally in the local language, so that people who do not understand Indonesian can understand and participate in worship.
"In the Christmas event with the Catechists, Rufinus became the translator of the sermon in the local language. the accusation that Rafinus was involved in a separatist movement or armed group which he was accused of is false, ”said Father Marthen Kuayo.
Currently, the Diocese of Timika is compiling a report and a chronology of the shooting incident that killed Rafinus.
Also read: Timika Diocese confirms Rafinus Tigau is a Catholic church preacher
As previously reported, a Catholic church reporter, Rafianus Tigau, Monday (26/10/2020), was shot dead by Indonesian security forces on duty in Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province. Besides Rafinus Tigau, a child named Megianus Kobagau was injured because of a recoset shot that was fired by the security forces.
A resident of Sugapa, Intan Jaya Regency, Papua Province, who was contacted by Jubi, said that Rafinus' body was found near his house, buried in a hole covered with banana leaves.
"The Indonesian National Police have been in Jalae since 5.00 am. They said they wanted to go after TPNPB. but TPNPB is far from the village. We'll hear gunfire. We don't know who can shoot. After there was no gunshot, then we checked out of the house. We just realized Rafinus wasn't there. So we looked for it, it turned out that he was buried in a hole covered in banana leaves, ”said this Sugapa resident.
Separately, the security forces carrying out the sweep in Jalae said Rufinus was a member of the Armed Separatist Criminal Group (KKSB) as they are called the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB).
"This is the result of post-development of the TGPF blockade by KKSB on 9 October. From the results of the development and collection of information from the community, accurate information was obtained that one of the KKSB groups was headquartered in Jalae Village, Sugapa District, "said the Head of Information for Kogabwilhan III, Col. Czi IGN Suriastawa. (*)
📷West papua 26 October 2020
