Bishop involved in politics?
<p>Bishop involved in politics?</p><p> This is a reaction to your report on Maluku may get new
leaders in the Jan. 6, 2000 edition. Since when is a Catholic
bishop, or priest for that matter, called upon to act as a
spokesman for the President on political matters? Was it proper
for Bishop Petrus Mandagie to tell The Jakarta Post what
President Abdurrahman Wahid may have told him in private on the
replacement of both the Maluku governor and the Pattimura
Military commander in an effort to find new people to resolve the
prolonged conflict? As a religious leader he should not have made
a statement to the media on such a sensitive political matter as
if he were just promoted to become the President's spokesman on
Ambon.</p><p>His statement may make the situation worse. This is a
statement that falls in Dr. Tamrin Amal Tamagola's
characterization of the Ambon conflict being engineered from
Jakarta (Kompas, Jan. 6, 2000). Every time a statement is made in
Jakarta on the issue, a series of conflicts may ensue in the
region resulting in additional deaths and wounded.</p><p>As someone being posted in Ambon, Bishop Mandagie should have
realized this and thus discuss the President's information with
the task force for solving the Ambon crisis chaired by Prof. Selo
Soemardjan, and with the various parties in Ambon when he gets
back to contribute to the speedy solution of the crisis that
continues to cause severe pain.</p><p> CPF LUHULIMA</p><p>Jakarta</p>
leaders in the Jan. 6, 2000 edition. Since when is a Catholic
bishop, or priest for that matter, called upon to act as a
spokesman for the President on political matters? Was it proper
for Bishop Petrus Mandagie to tell The Jakarta Post what
President Abdurrahman Wahid may have told him in private on the
replacement of both the Maluku governor and the Pattimura
Military commander in an effort to find new people to resolve the
prolonged conflict? As a religious leader he should not have made
a statement to the media on such a sensitive political matter as
if he were just promoted to become the President's spokesman on
Ambon.</p><p>His statement may make the situation worse. This is a
statement that falls in Dr. Tamrin Amal Tamagola's
characterization of the Ambon conflict being engineered from
Jakarta (Kompas, Jan. 6, 2000). Every time a statement is made in
Jakarta on the issue, a series of conflicts may ensue in the
region resulting in additional deaths and wounded.</p><p>As someone being posted in Ambon, Bishop Mandagie should have
realized this and thus discuss the President's information with
the task force for solving the Ambon crisis chaired by Prof. Selo
Soemardjan, and with the various parties in Ambon when he gets
back to contribute to the speedy solution of the crisis that
continues to cause severe pain.</p><p> CPF LUHULIMA</p><p>Jakarta</p>