Wamena Residents Can Celebrate Christmas In Their Hometown Thanks To TNI Assistance

JAKARTA - The TNI helps people who want to return to their hometowns (pulkam) to Wamena in order to celebrate Christmas by providing one Hercules aircraft.

"It is true that currently one Air Force Hercules unit is being deployed to transport people who want to celebrate Christmas in Wamena," said Silas Papare Air Base Commander Marsma TNI Budhi Achmadi quoted by Antara in Jayapura, Wednesday, December 23.

It was said that the assistance originated from a request from the Head of the Papua Religious Harmony Communication Forum (FKUB) Pdt Lipius Binilux to the TNI Commander.

The request was then responded to and starting Wednesday, December 23, the people who wanted to go home to celebrate Christmas with their families for free were already transported.

Due to the limited number being transported, only those who received a recommendation from FKUB could be assisted and still had to follow the health protocol, namely completing themselves with a COVID-19 free certificate.

"Hercules alerted to transport the community is C 130 and is scheduled for Thursday, December 24th. Altogether there are six scheduled return flights from Jayapura to Wamena," explained Marsma TNI Budhi.

The Chairperson of the Papua FKUB Pdt. Lipius Binilux separately appreciates the assistance given to the community so that people can celebrate Christmas joyfully with their families.

"I thank and appreciate the assistance because it has lightened the burden on people who want Christmas with their families, both from Jayapura-Wamena and vice versa, Wamena-Jayapura," said Pdt. Lipius Binilux.