ASIA/INDONESIA - Towards the Day of Missionary Martyrs: Rufinus Tigau, a young catechist murdered without reason

Timika (Agenzia Fides) - Rufinus Tigau, catechist and Catholic animator, was assassinated without reason by the Indonesian security forces on October 26, 2020 in the province of Papua (see Fides, 11/11/2020; 17/11/2020). On the eve of the 29th "Day of prayer and Fasting in memory of the Missionary Martyrs", on 24 March (see Fides, 16/3/2021), we recall the countless lay catechists, who especially in mission lands, where the presence of the priest is sporadic, keep the faith of the communities alive, ensuring catechesis and animation of the celebrations.
Rufinus Tigau belonged to the parish of Bilogai, Dekenat Moni-Puncak, in the diocese of Timika. According to witness statements from the village of Jalae, Sugapa district, Rufinus was shot dead by members of the TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, Indonesian National Army) in the village of Jalae after answering questions from the security forces.
"Members of the combined military and police apparatus asked, in front of Rufinus' house, who was in the house. After replying that his wife, son and elderly mother were in the house, Rufinus, unarmed, with his hands raised, was shots several times by the military", as reported in the statement from the diocese of Timika issued on November 1 2020.
Rufinus was tagged as a member of the KKSB (Armed Separatist Criminal Group). The term KKSB is commonly used by security forces to refer to the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB). Since he was accused of being involved in the KKSB group, the security forces, who had raided the village of Jalae that morning, considered him as a "target".
The inhabitants of Jalae deny all this, for them Rufinus Tigau was only a member of the Church, a catechist. He was hit by several bullets, for no reason, after responding to the military and declaring his identity. Rufinus's body was buried near his home.
The diocesan administrator of the diocese of Timika, Fr. Marthen Ekowaibi Kuayo, confirmed that Rufinus Tigau was a catechist and was not involved in the activities of the TPNPB. Sebby Sambon, a spokesperson for the TPNPB, also denied Rufinus' involvement in the TPNPB.
He came from a Catholic family, Rufinus and after finishing high school, he continued his studies in Jakarta, on the campus of the Polytechnic of State Finance STAN, selected in the special merit program. During his training in the study program he was classified as a quiet and very diligent student.
In addition to being on campus, Rufinus also actively participated in various extracurricular religious activities, within the OMK (Catholic Youth) and the PKN STAN Catholic Student Family (KMK), he was also a member of the "Way of the Living Cross" at the Church of Saint Matthew The Evangelist, in Bintaro.
After finishing college, he chose to return home in 2014. In his town, the young man was always active in religious activities and in 2015 he was appointed catechist by the parish priest of San Michele in Bilogai, Father Yustinus Rahangiar, to replace the catechist Frans Wandagau who had died.
As a catechist, Rufinus assisted the parish priest of the Jalae mission station in all pastoral activities, because the parish priest and other priests in the parish did not understand the local language or other aspects of the local cultural context. Rufinus also usually served in the parish church of Bilogai during the Christmas and Easter celebrations, with the main task of translating the homily into the local language (migani). In this way, Catholics who did not know Indonesian could participate and understand the priest's reflections.
In addition to this commitment, Salomina Gobay, a classmate at STAN, points out that Rufinus also assisted the poor in his village. According to her, Rufinus was a very intelligent person and was also enthusiastic about helping out in his native village, "a very modest person, with a smiling face. A man of faith and charity, he was always with the people". According to local population, Rufinus may have become a target of the military just because he was smart and tech-savvy. (MH/SL) (Agenzia Fides, 22/3/2021)

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