Indonesian Vice President (VP), Ma´ruf Amin met with representatives of Papua Churches Fellowship/Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja Papua (PGGP), West Papua Churches Fellowship/Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja Papua Barat (PGGPB), and Papua Christian Centre (PCC) at the Suni Hotel and Convention Abepura, Papua on Wednesday (11/10/2023). On that occasion, the Vice President expressed the important role of religious leaders for success in creating a more developed and prosperous Papua. “The role of religious leaders, church leaders, pastors, is key or as people say, a game changer,” said the Vice President.
The Vice President said that these partners are able to support the strategic agenda of special autonomy. “The church through the PGGP, PGGPB, and PCC should consistently become strategic partners of the government to realise various strategic agendas of special autonomy. Government and church collaboration will continue to be strengthened,” he added.
The reason why religious leaders play an important role is because they can build communication with the community and can provide understanding to the community through education and socialisation.
“In my opinion, pastors or religious leaders are community leaders who have great influence in order to guide and provide understanding to the community,” said the Vice President. The Vice President also emphasised that the important role of religious leaders must be accompanied by good collaboration between the central government, local governments, and traditional leaders in order to achieve more optimal welfare development in the Papua.
“If we really strive together to build the community, I think it will definitely be successful. I believe that,” said the Vice President.
Population data from the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2021 recorded the percentage of Protestant Christians in Papua at 69.39% and Catholics at 15.63%. This is one of the factors why the Papuan people cannot be separated from the church which has an important role in the region. As stipulated in Article 19 Paragraph 1 of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province regarding the existence of elements of “religious representatives” in the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP). The Vice President requested that the aspirations of the church be accommodated and realised in the formulation of strategic agendas.
“The government will continue to increase cooperation and collaboration with the church, both PGGP, PGGPB, and with various synods,” the Vice President firmly told the government to accelerate welfare development in Papua.
A collaborative movement with various social and community parties is needed so that development can be realised. The Bishop of Jayapura, Yunuarius You, said that one of the duties of religious leaders besides religious practices is to mobilise humanity, fight for justice, welfare, and peace in the Papuan community. “We also have a calling to be pro-humanity, so that there is justice, welfare, and peace in the Land of Papua, which cannot be separated from our duties,” said Bishop You. He also expressed his appreciation to the Vice President for his desire to listen to the aspirations of the community.
PGGP Chairman Pastor Hiskia Rollo revealed that the Vice President was the only state official who spent a long time interacting and listening to the aspirations of the Papuan people. “This is new, how a leader (can) stay 5 days here (in Papua). In the history of Papua, this is the first time a state official (spent) this much time in Papua,” concluded Pastor Hiskia.
Bishop Yunuarius You and Pastor Hiskia Rollo are some of the people who expressed their gratitude for the presence of the Vice President in accommodating the aspirations of the community, especially religious leaders in advancing development in the Land of Papua. “The presence of the Vice President now is truly extraordinary, as a father who comes to listen. For us that alone is extraordinary,” said Bishop You.
West Papua Now 