Ahead of the Election, Youth Call for a Political Message of Peace
Jayapura- Youth groups who are members of the protection of the Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) Papua Province together with branch administrators and a number of Youth Community Organizations (OKP) formed a political message of peace in the democratic party process towards the simultaneous Regional Head Elections (Pilkada) in 2024.
Chairman of the DPD KNPI Papua Province, Benyamin Gurik, rejected the issue of identity politics and religion ahead of the 2024 regional elections.
“Don’t use regional issues to destroy us in Papua. Don’t play around with religious issues that can divide us, we will maintain national unity. “We choose people who have a track record, that is what the public must understand,” stressed Benyamin Gurik.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Sarmi Regency KNPI, Billy Kreuw, also appealed to the youth, Tabi Saireri, to maintain calm so that the regional elections can run smoothly.
“In terms of differences, we hope that there will be no ethnic and religious differences, so that this Pilkada can run well,” he said.
He said that even though expansion had occurred, it did not mean that Papuans were easily divided.
“We must remain one. So, whoever the Papuan children nominate, we young people are ready to support, whoever is elected is the best to develop Papua in a better direction. “We, the youth, are ready to support Papuan children who are running in the Papua Province regional elections. We are nationalist youth. We don’t want identity politics in this land,” he said.
GMKI Jayapura branch chairman, Lalius Kabak hopes that each prospective candidate will continue to prioritize healthy politics and not play up issues of religion or identity.
“We hope that religious figures will build moral political education for the community,” he said.
Charli Lagefa, Chair of the Badko HMI Papua – West Papua also appealed to the youth and community not to easily take on provocations that could divide unity.
“This election is a party of democracy, we are maintaining peace in the Land of Papua, let us together maintain Security and Order in this land. People in Papua should not believe hoax news that will divide us. “For this reason, we ask to be smart in using social media,” he said.