ICC Note: A 24-year old medical missionary serving in a remote area of the Star Mountain regency in Papua, Indonesia, was violently killed on March 29, 2018. Police is still investigating the death of Berni Fallery Kunu, though initial evidence shows that he died being mistaken for a government spy.

 04/04/2018 Indonesia (Adventist Review) – Berni Fallery Kunu, a 24-year old health worker (medical missionary) serving as part of a two-man team in a remote area of the Star Mountain regency in Papua, Indonesia, was killed on March 29, 2018.

Kunu was a medical missionary serving with Adventist Aviation Indonesia (AAI), a service of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SSD). A nursing graduate of Mount Klabat Adventist University near Manado, Indonesia, he intended to devote his life to serving unreached people in remote areas without health care access.

He was violently killed on Thursday, March 29, 2018 by what is believed to be a group of people from an area three-days-walk away. It appears to be a case of mistaken identity. His body was found the next day in a shallow grave near the river where he was believed to be bathing when attacked.

His fellow health worker was unharmed and accompanied Kunu’s body to the AAI headquarters a day’s journey away. Other Adventist medical missionaries and teachers in the region were evacuated on Friday. At this time, work in the region is halted.

According to those who knew him, Kunu had a passion to serve God in the most challenging and remote areas. He was engaged to be married in January 2019. He and his fiancée, a nurse currently serving as a teacher in another area, planned to serve as medical missionary team in a remote area after their wedding.

He understood the dangers of working in remote areas, but trusted his life to God and planned to dedicate his future to such service. Known for his laughter and good humor, “he loved his job [and was] full of his love for his Lord,” according to his family. When they expressed concern for his safety, he would reassure them “with words of faith”.

Police are currently investigating the incident. It has garnered widespread attention up to the highest levels of national government. “We are deeply sorry for the death of our child, Berni Fallery Kunu,” said Indonesian Minister of Health, Nila Moeloek, in a written statement in Jakarta.

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