Papua New Guinea: Covid controller apologises to Hindu group for letter that prevented Durga Puja calling ‘idol worship is inappropriate’

Papua New Guinea COVID controller David Manning lately issued an apology letter after a earlier letter signed by him denied permission to the nation’s Hindus from holding Durga Puja, saying idol worshipping is “morally inappropriate and against Christian values”.
The denial for Durga puja celebrations sparked outrage amongst residents, following which Manning issued an apology letter and termed the earlier assertion as “grave and unfortunate error”.
Manning, who signed unique the letter says he was not the creator and he respects non secular freedoms. “I humbly seek your forgiveness for this unfortunate matter,” he says. pic.twitter.com/TKkT1XE39D— Ben Packham (@bennpackham) September 29, 2021
“On the 18th of September, 2021 a letter was drafted for me by the office of the Deputy Controller in regards to the non-approval of your request to host the prayers for Goddess Durga from 12-17 October, 2021. Whilst I ultimately take full responsibilities as the Controller of the National Pandemic Act, 2020, I afforded trust and professionalism to the Deputy Controller’s office. Unfortunately, my trust was misplaced in regards to this matter,” Manning mentioned in a recent letter looking for an apology.
“I sincerely and without reservation apologise for the comments in regards to “idol worshipping’ and “morally inappropriate and against our Christian values.” The feedback in themselves are extremely inappropriate and on no account, replicate my private {and professional} views. I, as a consultant of the Government of Papua New Guinea, respect the appropriate for non secular freedom in our nation,” the letter additional mentioned.
Manning added that the non-approval for Durga Puja celebrations was primarily based on the chance of COVID-19 transmission linked to the congregation of individuals. He asserted that he had brought on the creator of the earlier letter to be disciplined regarding the matter and has instigated a safe vetting course of inside the workplace of the Deputy Controller in order that such a scenario is just not repeated.
Manning requested for additional particulars of the proposed occasion, together with anticipated numbers and COVID mitigation protocols, in order that he might personally make one other evaluation of the appliance.
“Once again, I humbly seek your forgiveness for this unfortunate error and I hope that you accept that this was not in any way deliberate. I will make myself available if you wish to personally discuss this matter with me,” Manning mentioned within the letter.
The apology got here within the wake of a letter that rejected permission for the Hindu inhabitants to organise the Durga Puja celebrations. The letter mentioned the approval was not granted for non secular actions throughout Durga Puja, not due to COVID-19 however as a result of “idol-worshipping did not conform to Christian values.”
#PNG Covid controller David Manning guidelines out Hindu non secular ceremony. But not due Covid threat. “We note that this is a form of idol worshipping which is morally inappropriate and against our Christian values. As such APPROVAL IS NOT GRANTED to host this event.” pic.twitter.com/5OCC13Dylb— Ben Packham (@bennpackham) September 29, 2021
Papua New Guinea’s marked shift to embracing Christianity as state faith
Papua New Guinea or PNG as it’s generally referred to as is a rustic in Oceania that includes the jap half of the island of New Guinea and its offshore islands in Melanesia. It is adjoining to Indonesia and situated simply north of Australia. It gained its independence from Australia in 1975 however continues to stay a member of the British ‘Commonwealth of nations’. About 98 per cent of the whole 9 million inhabitants of PNG is Christian whereas the Hindu inhabitants is in mere 1000’s.
The preamble to the PNG structure says the nation was based on two primary ideas – of cultural heritage and Christianity. Though the nation doesn’t have any state faith, the preamble pledges “to guard and pass on to those who come after us our noble traditions and the Christian principles that are ours now”.
Parliament classes and most authorities places of work open and shut with Christian prayers. Papua New Guinea’s National Executive Council had final 12 months permitted a proposal to formally declare the nation Christian below the Constitution. The authorities is aggressively pursuing applications to reinforce partnerships between church buildings and the state, together with offering subsidies to church buildings and establishing church councils to assist handle native affairs.