Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka released the Easter Parade of\nthe Evangelical Christian Church in Timor (GMIT) 2026 from the PU\nRoundabout in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday (6\/4)\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
Around 5,000 participants from various congregations joined the\nparade, walking through several main roads in Kupang City, starting from\nFrans Seda Street, El Tari Street, Sudirman Street, to Moh Hatta Street,\nbefore ending at Kupang City Church.<\/p>\n
In his speech, Gibran conveyed greetings from President Prabowo\nSubianto to the people of NTT and the extended GMIT family.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn behalf of President Prabowo, I extend Easter Festival greetings\nto the entire GMIT family and all residents of NTT,\u201d Gibran said.<\/p>\n
Gibran expressed his pleasure at being able to attend directly among\nthe people. He viewed the GMIT Easter Festival not merely as a religious\ncelebration, but also as carrying an important message about peace and\ntolerance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am pleased to be here among you all, because this event is not\njust a religious celebration, but also brings a message about the\nimportance of peace and tolerance,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also appreciated the Kupang City Government\u2019s plan to promote the\nEaster Festival as a spiritual tourism agenda to stimulate the regional\neconomy.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom promotion, infrastructure strengthening, involvement of MSMEs\nand local communities, to the development of the creative economy, we\nmust encourage this together,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
According to him, East Nusa Tenggara has great potential as a\nspiritual tourism destination, supported by several well-known icons\nsuch as Semana Santa in Larantuka, East Flores, and the Statue of the\nVirgin Mary on Nilo Hill, Sikka Regency. The presence of the Easter\nFestival in Kupang is seen as able to strengthen that appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf combined with the Easter Festival in Kupang, this will become an\nextraordinary attraction capable of driving economic movement and\nimproving community welfare,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
On that occasion, Gibran also touched on the global situation marked\nby various conflicts, including in the Middle East region. He emphasised\nthat conflicts and wars always bring broad impacts that harm many\nparties.<\/p>\n
\u201cConflicts and wars will bring setbacks, and there is a very high\nprice to be paid, not only by the conflicting parties, but also by other\ncountries,\u201d he asserted.<\/p>\n
He urged the community to maintain unity and not be easily provoked\nby unverified information.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo not let differences become divisive. Do not be easily provoked,\nand do not easily believe hoaxes. If there is a misunderstanding,\nclarify it immediately and seek a middle way,\u201d he advised.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo country can advance if it is not stable, not united, and\ndivided,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Gibran also expressed appreciation to GMIT for its role in\nmaintaining unity and its contributions to community development.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for GMIT\u2019s role so far in maintaining peace and national\nunity. Hopefully, in the future, we can continue to synergise in facing\neconomic and geopolitical challenges,\u201d Gibran stated.<\/p>\n
Peace Message from NTT for Indonesia<\/p>\n
GMIT Synod Chairman, Pastor Semuel Pandie, said that the Easter\ncelebration is not merely a ceremony, but a testimony of faith that\nbrings messages of renewal and hope for society.<\/p>\n
According to him, the presence of the Vice President in Kupang shows\nthe state\u2019s attention to the eastern regions of Indonesia. He emphasised\nthat the meaning of Easter is to bring peace, restore relationships, and\nfoster hope.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom Kupang City, known as the \u2018City of Love and Harmony\u2019, GMIT\ncalls for the spirit of Easter to become a light for the nation,\ndismantling hatred, healing wounds, and building a peaceful and\nprosperous civilisation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his message of peace, GMIT together with religious leaders in NTT\nurged the community to maintain tolerance and unity amid diversity and\nto strengthen social solidarity in facing various challenges, from\npoverty to social crises.<\/p>\n
\u201cMaintain unity, nurture tolerance, and do not let differences divide\nus. From NTT, we voice peace for Indonesia,\u201d was the message conveyed in\nthe procession.<\/p>\n
NTT Governor Appreciates Vice President\u2019s Presence<\/p>\n
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Emanuel Melkiades Laka Lena described the\nVice President\u2019s presence as evidence of the central government\u2019s\ncommitment to development in NTT.<\/p>\n
He also appreciated the role of GMIT youth who are active in building\nsociety through values of faith, tolerance, and brotherhood. According\nto him, the GMIT Easter Festival becomes a momentum to strengthen\ntogetherness amid diversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cNTT is a home of tolerance, where differences are nurtured in peace\nand brotherhood,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Governor emphasised that the spirit of Easter must become a force\nto maintain unity, strengthen togetherness, and bring peace to\nsociety.<\/p>\n
The Chairman of the GMIT 2026 Easter Youth Committee, Simson Polin,\nsaid that this procession serves as a means to strengthen togetherness\nacross congregations and religions.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vice-president-gibran-releases-gmit-2026-easter-parade-in-kupang-1775631142", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }