Indonesian bishop condemns
pandemic profiteers
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| Workers in a rice field in Indonesia on June 3, 2020 (ANSA) |
Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi says some people are
exploiting the suffering and chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic for political and
material gain.
By Robin Gomes
An Indonesian bishop has hit out at individuals and groups
who have exploited the Covid-19 chaos for economic and political benefits.
Profiting from misery
Bishop Petrus Canisius Mandagi of Amboina in Maluku province
said he could not believe that amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has caused so
much misery worldwide, there are people and groups wanting to profit from it.
“They are now becoming richer,” the Sacred Heart bishop said
during a live-streamed Mass on Pentecost Sunday, May 31, at St. Francis Xavier
Cathedral in Ambon. He said these exploiters did not want to see a
decline in the number of new cases, “because if the pandemic subsides their
income will also drop.”
Speaking to UCA News on Tuesday, Bishop Mandagi explained
that he spoke out because he could not tolerate people profiting from the
suffering of others.
Profiteers want pandemic to continue
"I was saddened because as the nation struggles to stop
the virus, some individuals, politicians and groups want the pandemic to
continue," he said.
Without mentioning any name or groups, the 71-year old
bishop said these profiteers want the economic situation in Indonesia to get
worse, and more people to become jobless and poorer so that the government will
be blamed and they can demand a new government.
“They are power-hungry people and want to maintain wealth
gained through corruption. They are against the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Pope Francis on profiteers
Bishop Mandagi was sharing the sentiments of Pope Francis
who had earlier condemned these profiteers.
At the start of a Mass streamed live from the Vatican’s Casa
Santa Marta on April 8, the Pope urged prayers for people who during this time
of the pandemic make business at the expense of the needy.
“May the Lord touch their hearts and convert them,” the Holy
Father said, regarding people such as the mafia, usurers and others who profit
from the needs of others.
At another Mass on April 23, the Holy Father again hit out
at unscrupulous money-lenders who are profiting from the misery of the
situation.
“This is another pandemic, another virus: It's a social
pandemic,” he said.
Many families who are not working and do not have food to
put on the table for their children, the Pope continued, are prey to usurers
who end up taking the little that they have.
Political gain
Stanislaus Riyanta, an intelligence analyst at the
University of Jakarta, agreed with the Bishop Mandagi, saying there were groups
using the pandemic for their own political interests.
Besides extremist groups wanting to establish a caliphate,
there are also political groups spreading discontent and inviting people to
weaken a legitimate government.
Economic downturn
Indonesia on Wednesday reported 684 new coronavirus
infections, taking the total number of cases to 28,233, with close to 1,700
deaths.
Southeast Asia’s biggest economy is trying to ease its
large-scale social restrictions (LSSR) in a bid to restart the economy battered
by the pandemic.
According to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs,
in the nation of 265 million people, the fourth most populous country in the
world, some 9 million Indonesians were already out of work when the virus
hit. Since then, another 2 million have lost their jobs.
“We cannot stay at home until next year. There will be more
people hungry and they will become angry,” Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating
Minister for Economic Affairs said on May 26.
He warned that rising unemployment could cause a crisis in
the financial sector, which may have further adverse consequences.
(Source: UCA News)
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