By : Salmon Kadepa )*
The development carried out in Papua does not only involve the role of the government. Given that the Papuan people are religious, development in Papua also involves the role of the church and religious leaders who are very influential.
Chief Expert Staff Office of the President Theofransus Litaay said, President Jokowi regularly held various coordination meetings related to Papua. This is demonstrated through monitoring and updating instruments to increase community participation.
One of the development approaches implemented is the involvement of various religious, traditional and community institutions (women and youth) according to the directions of Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Amendments to the 2001 Special Autonomy Law for Papua.
Theofransus explained that the church’s involvement in the development of Papua is very clear. The government always consults with church leaders who are members of the PGGP (Association of Papuan Churches) and PGGPB (Association of West Papua Churches) organizations.
Theofransus also revealed, through the Agency for the Acceleration of Papua Development in the Special Autonomy of Papua (BP3OKP) which emphasized that the churches in Papua play an active role in accelerating the acceleration of the development of the Papua Island region.
At the last PON XX event in Papua, various facilities belonging to the church’s educational institutions were also used and improved so that they could be used after PON for education.
The President and the Vice President often involve technical ministries in Papua to discuss the realization of government partnership programs with the aspirations of the churches in Papua.
Even Theofransus emphasized that the President’s commitment to inaugurating PYCH (Papua Youth Creative Hub) could be utilized for the creativity of church youth in Papua Island.
Some of the programs that receive priority include the Community Work Training Center (BLKK) program, mentoring and providing business funds, social assistance and health and education services in remote areas and handling stunting.
In addition, it should also be noted that the government is providing support for the establishment of the Papua Christian Center (PCC), which is an autonomous body that is intended to be a forum for study and analysis, to provide strengthening of churches in Papua as well as a government partner in the preparation and execution of programs in Papua.
On a different occasion, the Vice President’s Special Staff (Wapres Staff), Gatot Prio Utomo, said the Indonesian Vice President, Ma’ruf Amin, had ordered the agenda for accelerating development in Papua to involve Papuan church leaders and institutions.
Gatot said that the accelerated development of Papua must absorb the aspirations of church leaders in Papua so that they can make a positive contribution and accelerate the acceleration of welfare development in the Land of Papua.
Gatot explained that the Vice President had given directions to involve Papuan churches in efforts to accelerate development in the Land of Papua. Therefore, his party has built a strategic partnership with the Papuan Church institution, in this case the Papua/West Papua PGGP, to absorb the aspirations of the Papuan Church leadership.
Gatot expressed his gratitude to the Papuan Church leaders who have built peace in the land of Papua. According to Gatot, the church, synod leaders, pastors, and religious leaders have played an active role in building community, humanity, nationality and peace in the land of Papua. He conveyed this while representing the Vice President at the highlight of the celebration of the 168th anniversary of the Evangelization Day (HPI) on Mansinam Island, Manokwari, West Papua.
He stressed the Government’s commitment to continue to promote a cultural-religious and humanist approach in Papuan peace, especially with church figures as one of the main stakeholders in Papua’s development. Religious figures are important pillars in mainstreaming the values of peace and prosperity in the land of Papua. Through spiritual, educational and social services, church leaders are at the forefront in realizing a peaceful and prosperous Papua.
The role of the church is very strategic, especially in development in the field of religion. In the course of the nation’s history, the church has played a major role in the development of religion. Of course this is part of the great contribution of society to the nation. With its various service programs, the church has become very effective in filling out national development.
With its extensive service program, the Indonesian Protestant Church (GPI) is certainly expected to play an even bigger role in realizing a better national life system.
Inter-religious harmony has always been a serious concern of the government. Since the time of independence, various understandings and religions have united to fight for the independence of the homeland from the hands of the invaders. There is no discrimination on the basis of religion and belief. In fact, all these differences have only strengthened the sense of brotherhood in realizing an independent, united, sovereign, just and prosperous country.
Building Papua cannot be separated from the involvement of religious leaders who provide services to the community on a daily basis. The involvement of religious leaders certainly not only supports development but also helps maintain peace where this can support development progress in Papua.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bandung
