Papua Governor Lukas Enembe (Jubi)
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Governor Lukas Enembe urged the media and the public to stop exaggerating the Tolikara incident because Papua was built in spirit of religious tolerance and harmony in line with its slogan ‘Love Through Differences’.
In addition, the governor asked the Christians and Muslims in Tolikara Regency and Papua and Indonesia to maintain peace and not to be provoked by provocative issues or imbalance coverage.
“Tolikara incident was an isolated case. It occurred because of misunderstanding between religious communities, residents and security forces as well. It shouldn’t be exaggerated as if we are in Papua are intolerance. I firmly said that for decades people in Papua are very tolerance and maintain the harmony among religious communities. Let us continue to build Papua in the diversity and love penetrating difference. Make this case as lesson learned,” Lukas Enembe stated in the press release received by Jubi on Monday (20/7/2015).
According to him, he was invited by the committee of Seminar and Church Devotion of International GIDI Youth to give presentation about the role of Papua Provincial Government in supporting the Church on 15 July 2015 at Karubaga, the capital city of Tolikara Regency. The day after, he and his family flight from Karubaga to his hometown Mamit where located at Kembu Sub-district, Tolikara Regency for vacation.
“In the seminar, I also said to the GIDI Youth in Papua and Indonesia about the importance of building the tolerance, peace and security in supporting the development. This incident was extremely out of my imagination. I see it as minor misunderstanding and temporarily anger of both sides,” Enembe said.
The governor also asked the Tolikara Regional Government, security forces and religious leaders to continue building the sincere commucation and persuasive approach that the current conducive atmosphere would continuously be maintained and improved.
Meanwhile, the First Assistant for Papua Regional Secretariat, Doren Wakerkwa said the Papua Provincial Government regretted this incident. He also regretted the provocative coverage by national media and social media to spread the issue of religious and race conflict in this incident.
“I was confirmed that it wasn’t a mosque that burned but mushola (little mosque). And it wasn’t deliberately burned. It was accidently burned because it was located near to stalls that burned by the crowd. There’s no intention to burn the mushola. Put it on your note. I must stress this incident should be a lesson for security forces to restraint and do a persuasive approach,” Wakerkwa said at VIP Room of Sentani Airport.
According to him who also accompanied the governor in the Seminar and Church Devotion of GIDI Youth at Karubaga and Mamit said learning from Tolikara incident, all parties in Papua should maintain the inter-religious harmony and peaceful as a pillar of development. Since decades Papua is very opened to people of different religion, ethnic and culture to build Papua.
Meanwhile the First Assistant of Tolikara Regional Government, Emi Enembe when meeting Mamit villagers at Kembu Sub-district, Tolikara on Sunday said the situation in Karubaga-Tolikara is now under control. Therefore, Emi Enembe asked the entire parties especially youths in Kembu Sub-district for not being provoked and keep maintaining the security.
“Do not create any further acts. If we want to be advanced in development, the first thing that we should do is to maintain the security,” Emi Enembe said. Enembe further gave appreciation to Dok II Jayapura Public Hospital that represented by dr. Anton Mote who also attended the Bakar Batu ceremony at Mamit Vilage. “We will continue to control and I hope our children who become the victims that currently treated in Dok II Public Hospital can have good service to immediately recover. And I say my condolence to whom have passed away,” Emi said. (Alexander Loen/rom)
