TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Christian organization, Forum Umat Kristiani Indonesia (FUKRI), raises questions about the legacy of President Prabowo Subianto's policies for Papua, amid deep concerns over the ongoing conflict in the Land of the Cenderawasih.
"Our question has always been: what legacy does Pak Prabowo want to leave for Papua? If every president has a legacy there, what legacy are we going to talk about? And how can the church's voice also be heard?" said the General Chair of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Rev. Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty, in a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Yet to Meet Prabowo
Jacklevyn revealed that church synod representatives have repeatedly tried to open up a direct dialogue with President Prabowo.
Official letters have been sent, both from the central level and directly from churches in Papua. However, to date, these efforts have not yielded results. "So far, we have not been granted access," said Jacklevyn.
Despite the lack of access to the president, he mentioned that the church has been invited several times by other state institutions. They are often asked to speak at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) and have received invitations from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs as well as the State Intelligence Agency (BIN).
"They inquire about the church's stance and other related matters," he said.
Nevertheless, FUKRI asserts that they will not give up on direct communication with the head of state. "But we will not stop hoping to be able to engage openly [with Prabowo]," he said.
The Church's Track Record in Bridging Papua
Jacklevyn recalls that PGI and the association of churches have a long track record of assisting the people of Papua to convey their aspirations directly to the nation's leaders across past administrations. Some of these include:
- President B.J. Habibie: Accompanied Papuan figures that later gave birth to the idea of a National Dialogue for Papua.
- SBY: Facilitated a meeting between Papuan church leaders and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Cikeas.
- Jokowi: Hosted President Joko Widodo's visit to PGI to discuss humanitarian issues in Papua.
"Pak Jokowi came here. We have the record all about how the churches have spoken not only for the nation's calling, but also in the call of faith and humanity for Papua," he said.
Read: Prabowo Reveals Massive Gold Reserves in Papua Mountains
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