PTKIN Leaders Meet to Matter the Implementation of the "We Love Papua" Program

The Indonesian Minister of Religion, Fachrul Razi received two leaders of the State Islamic Religious College (PTKIN) from Papua and one from Aceh. Their presence is in order to finalize the implementation of the 'We Love Papua' (KCP) program which will build a bridge of solidarity between Aceh-Papua and West Papua.

The three PTKIN leaders are the Chancellor of IAIN Fattahul Muluk, Papua, Idrus Alhamid; Rector of IAIN Sorong, Hamzah and Deputy Chancellor of UIN Ar-Raniry, Aceh, Gunawan Adnan.

The meeting with the three PTKIN leaders took place in the office of the Minister of Religion, Ministry of Religion Office Jalan Lapangan Banteng Barat No 3-4, Central Jakarta.

Also accompanying the Minister of Religion, the Director of Islamic Religious Higher Education, Arskal Salim; Staff of the Minister of Religion, Jul Effendi; and Sesmen, Khoirul Huda Basyir. In front of the leadership of PTKIN, the Minister of Religion emphasized that the 'We Love Papua' program will focus on the context of developing religious life and religious education in Aceh and Papua.

"The KCP is not politics but focuses on the context of religion and religious education. The spearheads of this program are the Directorate General of Christian Community Guidance, the Directorate General of Catholic Community Guidance, and the Center for Religious Harmony (PKUB)," said the Minister of Religion in Jakarta, as quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Religion, Monday (24/8).

According to the Minister of Religion, the KCP Program aims to promote education and religion in Papua and West Papua Provinces through support for the construction of schools and churches. This program will also provide scholarship support to the young generation of Papua - West Papua in obtaining education at every level on an ongoing basis.

On that occasion, the Minister of Religion received input and suggestions regarding the development of the KCP program from the chancellors. The Chancellor of IAIN Fattahul Muluk, Papua, for example, proposed for higher education cooperation between Aceh-Papua, building homestays for guests, lecturers and professors at IAIN Papua, and building religious clusters for religious leaders.

"We have implemented the religious clusters in IAIN Papua specifically where religious leaders received education for two years regarding love for the Republic of Indonesia, defending the country, and how to handle conflicts," said IAIN Papua Rector, Idrus Alhamid.

The Minister of Religion welcomes the proposal to support the Ministry of Religion's KCP Program and hopes that the proposal is not just a discourse.

"Thank you for this excellent suggestion. I hope that this proposal is not just a discourse, but is directly included in the KCP program," said the Minister of Religion.