Christian Forum Questions Prabowo's Legacy for Papua

The Indonesian Christian Forum (FUKRI) has questioned the policy legacy that President Prabowo Subianto will leave for Papua. This is based on deep concern over the ongoing conflict in the Land of Cenderawasih. “Our question is always: what legacy does Mr 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 voice of the church also be heard,” said the General Chairman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), Reverend Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty, during a press conference at Grha Oikoumene PGI, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 16 July 2026. Jacklevyn revealed that representatives of church synods have repeatedly tried to open a direct dialogue with President Prabowo. Official letters have been sent, both from the central level and directly from churches in Papua. However, these efforts have yet to yield results. “Until now, we have not been able to gain access,” said Jacklevyn. Although access to the president remains closed, he mentioned that the church has been invited several times by other state institutions. They are often asked to be speakers at the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), and to attend invitations from the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenko Polhukam) and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). “They ask about the church’s stance and other related matters,” he said. Nevertheless, FUKRI stressed that it will not give up on being able to communicate directly with the head of state. “But we will not stop hoping to be able to enter, to have an open dialogue,” he said. Jacklevyn reminded that PGI and the church association have a long track record of accompanying the people of Papua to convey their aspirations directly to the nation’s leaders in every era of government. Some of these include: the era of President B.J. Habibie, when they accompanied Papuan figures which later gave birth to the idea of a National Dialogue for Papua; the SBY era, when they facilitated a meeting between Papuan church leaders and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Cikeas; and the Jokowi era, when they hosted President Joko Widodo’s visit to PGI to discuss humanitarian issues in Papua. “Mr Jokowi came here. We have a record of all the journeys of how churches speak out in a national calling, but also in a calling of faith and humanity for Papua,” he said.