'Misleading' dam news are clarified by an Indonesian priest

After many local news reports this week stated he endorsed a controversial dam project in Indonesia's Catholic-majority East Nusa Tenggara province, an archbishop was forced to clarify his position.

“I am not in a position to agree or disagree as a shepherd and a Catholic leader.
On Sept. 25, Archbishop Vincentius Sensi Potokota of Ende stated, "I am impartial."

He was speaking at the consecration of a new church in Nagekeo district's Jawakisa village.

The contentious project in question is a projected US$100 million dam in Rendubutowe, a village in the same area, that the Indonesian government hopes to complete by 2024.

The government claims the dam is part of a plan to irrigate 6,000 hectares of rice crops, but indigenous people in the area claim the proposed location is on their property, which includes ancestral burial grounds.

Because he had not publicly come out in support of the indigenous inhabitants, who are nearly all Catholic, Archbishop Potokota said the news reports looked to imply he backed the government proposal.

He felt compelled to clarify the situation in case the news gave Catholics the wrong idea.

The archbishop stated that the dam has divided opinion since it was proposed in 2016, and that he would prefer to remain impartial rather than have the Church become embroiled in the debate.

On Sept. 25, dozens of people marched on and conducted a rally at the local district office, which was the most recent protest.

Archbishop Potokota expressed optimism that a solution could be achieved because the district's agriculture required a boost.