JAKARTA, Indonesia – Fr Johannes Jonga Pr, a 51-year-old Indonesian priest, won the 2009 Yam Thiam Hien Award, a national prize that goes people who have shown an outstanding commitment to peace, human rights and human dignity. A diocesan priest from Jayapura, Father Jonga is being recognised for his work on behalf of the population of Papua Province. He has dealt with the consequences of the conflict between the Papua Independence Organisation and the army since the start of his mission.
Father Jonga has met many of those on the run from the Indonesian military. He has helped them without consideration for their politics and has joined local populations in pressing claims against soldiers and multinationals that violated their rights.