A Catholic bishop in Indonesia has denounced nickel mining in Raja Ampat, calling it environmental destruction driven by oligarchic greed.
Bishop Bernardus Bofitwos Baru of Timika issued the strong condemnation during his Pentecost Sunday homily on June 8 at the Cathedral of the Three Kings.
The prelate warned that extractive industries in the West Papua region are exploiting Indigenous lands and natural resources under the guise of national development, according to a report by Tempo.
“Two thousand hectares of Marind land have been cleared for the sake of oligarchic interests,” the bishop said. “Now, even the natural beauty of Raja Ampat is being destroyed under the pretext of ‘national strategic projects.’”
Bishop Bernardus, a native Papuan and member of the Order of Saint Augustine, previously led the Augustinian Regio based in Sorong, the capital of West Papua Province. Raja Ampat, located off Sorong’s coast and accessible by a three-hour speedboat ride, is internationally recognized for its marine biodiversity and crystal-clear waters.
The bishop warned that environmental exploitation is rooted in a moral crisis. “This is the spirit of the world,” he said. “Do we want to follow that spirit—one that destroys nature and human dignity?”
He urged the faithful to embrace the Holy Spirit instead, which he said unites and moves people to defend creation, justice, and Indigenous rights. “Those who fight to protect their forests, land, and culture—they are moved by the Holy Spirit,” he said. “Let us reject the worldly spirit that sides with oligarchs and brings misery to others.”
The bishop’s homily comes amid growing public resistance to mining activities in the ecologically sensitive region.
On June 3, Greenpeace Indonesia and four young Papuans staged a protest during the Indonesia Critical Minerals Conference and Expo in Jakarta, holding banners that read “Nickel Mines Destroy Life” and “Save Raja Ampat from Nickel Mining.”
Greenpeace forest campaigner Iqbal Damanik said the government had issued 16 mining permits across the archipelago, including for small islands as little as two square kilometres. “If this continues, it will devastate the local environment,” he warned.
In response to public pressure, Minister of Environment and Forestry Hanif Faisol announced the sealing of four nickel mining sites in Raja Ampat. Two of the companies involved held valid environmental permits, which are now under review. “All companies are obligated to carry out environmental restoration,” he said.
Separately, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, who also chairs the Golkar Party, confirmed a temporary suspension of operations by PT GAG Nikel pending further inspection. “We have ordered a halt to all activity pending further inspection on site,” he said.
Raja Ampat, part of eastern Indonesia, is widely regarded as one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the world. Environmental groups and Indigenous communities have warned that continued mining activity threatens not only fragile ecosystems but also the cultural survival of Papuan peoples.
