Visit Jokowi at the Palace, Head of FKUB Papua: We Take a Stand for This Nation, Not Just Papua

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Papua Province Religious Harmony Forum (FKUB), Pastor Lipiyus Biniluk, visited President Joko Widodo at the Jakarta Presidential Palace.

Pastor Lipiyus was not pleased to explain further the contents of his meeting with President Jokowi. He only stated that he would convey input as an obligation of one of the religious leaders.

"I am like this but giving input to the leader of the country is the obligation as a priest", Lipiyus told the media after the meeting, quoted from Antara, Monday, September 19.

Lipiyus admitted that his arrival was not only related to Papua, but also because of important issues for the Indonesian nation.

"We also have personal matters. The most important personal matters I don't want to talk about, but that are extraordinary, for this great nation. We take a stand for this nation, not (only) Papua", he said.

Pastor Lipiyus previously Chairman of FKUB Papua had formed an investigation team related to the incident in Kaurbaga, Tolikara Regency, during Eid al-Fitr 1436 Hijri on July 17, 2015.

At that time, Pastor Lipiyus also had a meeting with President Jokowi at the Jakarta Presidential Palace on July 25, 2015, and stated that the Tolikara incident was not a religious conflict.

According to Lipiyus, improving communication patterns between communities and the public with stakeholders is one of the keys to preventing the recurrence of similar incidents.

"Tolikara is not a religious issue. The basic problem is communication that didn't go well", said Lipiyus at the time.