The Role of Indigenous Leaders in Safeguarding Papua's Unity within the Indonesian Nation
Jayapura — “The key to peace in Papua rests in the hands of traditional leaders as community figures and ‘rulers of the earth’ in Papua,” said Herman Yoku, Chief of the Wikaya tribe, Keerom District, in a statement to ANTARA in Jayapura.
Papua has held the designation of “Papua Tanah Damai” (Peaceful Papua Land) since 2019. The signing of the peace declaration was witnessed by the then-Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) Marsekal TNI Hadi Tjahjanto and then-National Police Chief General Pol Tito Karnavian, who currently serves as Minister of Home Affairs.
The declaration was signed by community leaders, religious figures and youth representatives, and finalised by the then-Papua Police Chief Irjen Pol Rudolf Rodja, Commander of Military Command XVII/Cenderawasih Mayjen TNI Yoshua Sembiring, and Papua Governor Lukas Enembe in Jayapura.
Papua Tanah Damai represents a shared vision and declaration among religious and community leaders to create a safe, harmonious and conducive environment. The movement emphasises the importance of interfaith harmony and unity within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), though its implementation continues to face challenges related to inequality and conflict.
According to Herman, calls to end conflict in Papua are inconsistent with the province’s “Papua Tanah Damai” designation. “For this reason, we must strengthen communication between the government and traditional leaders as a pillar of development,” he stated.
Given the situation in Papua, numerous deaths from ongoing violence continue to occur, contradicting the province’s peaceful designation. A meeting of ondoafi and tribal chiefs across Papua with regional government in Jayapura on 13 February 2026 represents a strategic step to address these challenges whilst reinforcing the role of ondoafi and tribal chiefs in safeguarding Papua’s unity within the NKRI framework.
Government openness to resuming communication with ondoafi and tribal chiefs provides a strategic opportunity to end conflict in Papua. The government must genuinely engage with communities through ondoafi and tribal chiefs, as these leaders hold a crucial role as the key to peace in Papua.
Ondoafi represents the highest and oldest traditional leadership system in Papua, particularly among indigenous communities in Sentani and Jayapura, often compared to a king or highest-ranking tribal chief. Ondoafi lead several villages and patrilineal lineages, regulate social order, maintain security and hold full authority over customary lands; in certain regions, ondoafi are also called ondofolo.
Tribal chiefs are the highest leaders or central figures within a tribe, clan or indigenous community who regulate customs, resolve social issues and maintain community stability. They are selected based on local wisdom, seniority or descent, and are respected as the highest decision-makers.