Mgr. Jos Suwatan elected bishop conference chief

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) elected Mgr. Jos Suwatan OSC, as its new chairman for the 1997-2000 period yesterday, replacing Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja.

Suwatan, 57, is also Bishop of Manado, North Sulawesi.

Thirty-five bishops from 34 dioceses across Indonesia also elected in its three-yearly congress yesterday Mgr. Martinus D. Situmorang of Padang diocese in West Sumatra as the first vice chairman, and Mgr. Longinus da Cunha, the Archbishop of Ende in East Nusa Tenggara, as the second vice chairman.

Situmorang was formerly secretary-general of the organization. The position will now be held by J. Hadiwikarta, Pr., the 52-year-old Archbishop of Surabaya in East Java, who was also elected yesterday.

The other leading members of the organization elected yesterday include Mgr. Florentinus Sului, MSF, from the diocese of Samarinda; Mgr. Leo Laba Lajar, OFM, who is also Bishop of Jayapura in Irian Jaya and Mgr. Michael C. Angkur, OFM, the bishop of Bogor in West Java.

Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja had held the chairmanship for three consecutive terms and therefore could not be reelected. Election was conducted through balloting and Jos Suwatan received two thirds of the votes, according to Hadiwikarta.

The congress, which opened on Nov. 3, will conclude tomorrow with a Mass, he said. (rlt/swe)