Jayapura – The Chairman of the Papua Baptist Churches Fellowship (PGBP) for Lanny Jaya Region, Rev. Ito Jigibalom, has called on all residents of Lanny Jaya Regency to actively maintain public security and order in order to create a safe, peaceful, and conducive environment in the Papua Highlands, Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Rev. Ito emphasized that Lanny Jaya Regency, particularly Tiom City, is known as a “Gospel city” that must be protected from any form of security disturbance. As a religious leader, he said he consistently delivers messages of peace to all elements of society, including those who are still carrying out activities outside the city area.
“I have directly conveyed to our younger brothers who are still struggling outside not to cause disturbances in Lanny Jaya Regency. Tiom is a Gospel city and there must be no chaos in this area,” Rev. Ito said.
He noted that there are parties from outside the region entering the city and even visiting residents’ homes to seek support for certain interests. In response, the church and religious leaders have firmly rejected any activities that could potentially disrupt public security and social harmony.
The commitment to safeguarding peace, he added, has become a collective decision of church leaders, as reaffirmed during the 9th Congress of the Papua Baptist Churches Fellowship in December 2025. The congress underscored the role of the church in actively promoting stability, strengthening brotherhood, and fostering harmonious community life across Papua.
Rev. Ito also expressed his support for and appreciation of the working visit of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia to the Papua Highlands. He described the visit as clear evidence of the central government’s attention to the progress and welfare of Papuan communities.
“We, as religious leaders, greatly appreciate the working visit of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia to the Papua Highlands. This is a positive step and a tangible form of the central government’s concern in advancing Papua in general, whether in terms of development, welfare, or community peace,” he stated.
Rev. Ito hopes that the appeal he delivered will strengthen public awareness so that communities are not easily provoked, continue to uphold unity, and work together to build a Papua Highlands region that is safe, peaceful, and progressive.
