Indonesian priest recalled as fearless defender of human rights

Father Amanue's 2003 libel conviction set off a riot that led to torching of court, prosecutor's office.

Indonesian Father Fransiskus Amanue, who died March 26 at the age of 71, was recalled as a fearless defender of the rights of people in East Nusa Tenggara province. (Photo by Melkhior Koli Baran)

Larantuka:  Indonesian Father Fransiskus Amanue, a human rights campaigner whose 2003 conviction on libel charges started a riot that led to the torching of a court building, died March 26. He was 71.

About 4,000 people attended the funeral Mass, celebrated March 29 in Queen of Rosary Cathedral in Larantuka in East Nusa Tenggara province.

Born in Adonara, East Flores on Nov. 17, 1944, he was ordained a priest on June 16, 1974, in Adonara, and later was assigned as a priest in Alor district. From 1996 to 2004, he served as the chairman of Larantuka Diocese's justice and peace commission.

Bishop Franciscus Kopong Kung of Larantuka recalled Father Amanue as a tireless advocate for the poor and for social justice.

"Indeed, what he has done is for the goodness of the people, not for personal gain or popularity," the bishop said.

"Even during his retirement he remained an advocate for people's rights," Bishop Kung said.

Paulus Wadu told ucanews.com that when his father, Laurensius, was found dead on his farm in 2013, Father Amanue, who retired from active ministry in 2009, refused to accept natural causes as the official cause of death and launched his own investigation.

Laurensius Wadu had refused to turn over the family farm to the local government, who sought the property as a potential resort site due to its proximity to the beach.

"We were amazed. We did not ask for his help, but the priest just walked in and offered some help," he said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Those who knew Father Amanue recalled him as a fearless defender of human rights who often found himself at odds with government officials who sought to silence him.

Perhaps his watershed moment occured in Novemember 2003 when he was convicted for defaming East Flores district head Felix Fernandez. Father Amanue, who at the time was head of the diocese's justice and peace commission, had filed several cases against Fernandez over the misappropriation of public funds. The libel charges were widely believed to be in retaliation.

About 3,000 people attended the trial, nearly all in support of Father Amanue. Following the reading of the guilty verdict, the judges, prosecutors and other officials and their family members fled Larantuka. Moments later, the enraged crowd entered the court building, removed air conditioners, computers, court documents, furniture and typewriters, which they then destroyed and set on fire before burning down the court offices.

The mob then proceeded three kilometers to the prosecutor's office, which they also burned.

Photos published at the time showed Father Amanue trying to calm the crowd.

Source: UCAN