Gekira Forms Ecology Regiment: A Moral Commitment to Caring for the Earth

The Indonesian Raya Christian Movement (Gekira), the wing of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), reaffirmed its ecological commitment by forming the Gekira Ecology Regiment, a semi-autonomous body envisaged as an environmental restoration action unit. The mandate for national leadership was conferred directly by Gekira’s General Chair Nikson Silalahi upon Laurencus Pakpahan as National Commander in a ceremony at the Gekira Central Secretariat, Central Jakarta (2 March 2026). This moment marks a strategic step for the organisation in integrating political, moral, and ecological movements in a single breath of struggle. Nikson emphasised that Gekira must actively participate in safeguarding and preserving Indonesia’s biodiversity. The responsibility, he said, is not merely political but also moral—a call to maintain the balance between economic growth and ecological sustainability. “This challenge requires not only policy but a movement of awareness—a paradigm shift that sees the Earth not as an object of exploitation but as our common home,” he said. He emphasised that the frequent natural disasters ravaging the country must be met with real action and the involvement of the younger generation of Christians in the environmental rescue movement. This step, according to Nikson, aligns with the vision of President Prabowo Subianto’s administration, which has consistently advocated the importance of energy sovereignty, food security, and sustainable development rooted in the people’s interests. The Chairman of the PP Gekira Board of Patrons and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Energy, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, in various forums also stressed that economic growth and environmental preservation are not two poles that negate each other, but two dimensions that must be aligned in a visionary and sustainable manner. This mandate further strengthens Gekira’s resolve to form the Ecology Regiment as a real-world instrument of action. Gekira’s Secretary-General, Yeremias Ndoen, added that the formation of this action unit finds the right spiritual momentum. The Universal Church has designated 2026 as the Jubilee Year of Saint Francis of Assisi—a call of faith to undertake ecological repentance and to care for creation with love and responsibility. “The Gekira Ecology Regiment is a manifestation of national commitment and a moral calling for Christians. This is a response to the national leadership’s vision as well as a philosophical reflection on ecological responsibility,” he said. For Laurencus Pakpahan, the mandate he has received is not merely an honour but a major task requiring consistency and resolve. He believes the world today lives in an environmental ethics paradigm that requires every element of the nation to actively participate in caring for the Earth. Therefore, he is committed to swiftly forming the organisational apparatus from the centre to the regional level so that the Gekira Ecology Regiment will have tangible impact. “We will move quickly and in a measured way. The vision of Gekira’s Central Board and Mr Hashim Djojohadikusumo to plant one million trees must be realised promptly,” Laurencus said. Thus, the birth of the Gekira Ecology Regiment is not merely the formation of a new body but an ethical declaration that caring for the Earth is an inseparable part of the nation’s struggle and service to humanity—an oath that Indonesia’s future must grow in tandem with the preservation of its natural environment.