Jayapura – The Chairman of the Synod of the Gereja Kemah Injil Indonesia (GKII) in the Land of Papua, Rev. Petrus Bonyadone, M.Th., has called on all communities to give thanks to God for being granted the opportunity to enter the year 2026 with life and divine guidance.
In his statement, Rev. Petrus highlighted a series of recent violent incidents that have caused concern among the people of Papua. One of the incidents he deeply regretted was the shooting of a pilot and co-pilot in the Korowai area, which resulted in profound sorrow.
“As a servant of God, I see this from a humanitarian perspective. Life belongs in God’s hands. No human being has the right to take the life of another,” he said.
According to him, pilots have long served remote areas to assist local communities, making the incident especially tragic and unjustifiable from both a faith-based and humanitarian standpoint.
Rev. Petrus emphasized that the church does not condone violence in any form, as it does not glorify God and contradicts the values of the Gospel. “Whatever the reason, taking a life is an inhumane act and there will certainly be consequences,” he stated.
He also referred to several other shooting incidents in mountainous regions of Papua that have directly affected civilians. He reminded the public that Papua is widely known as the “Land of the Gospel,” and therefore acts of violence should have no place in a land that upholds strong faith-based values.
Rev. Petrus expressed concern over the social impact caused by the deteriorating security situation, including church members who have been forced to flee their homes. Such conditions, he noted, affect family economies, children’s education, and access to healthcare services.
He urged all parties involved to exercise restraint and prioritize persuasive and peaceful approaches in order to maintain security and unity. He also conveyed appreciation to the Indonesian National Police and the Cartenz Peace Task Force for their continued efforts to safeguard stability and protect the community.
“On behalf of the church, we call on all parties to preserve Papua as a Land of Peace. Stop all forms of violence that harm the community,” he said.
He further encouraged church leaders and congregations to continue supporting peace through prayer and humanitarian service.
“Our hope in 2026 is that we put an end to all acts of violence and work together to realize Papua as a Land of Peace, where all people can live safely, peacefully, and prosperously,” concluded Rev. Petrus Bonyadone, M.Th.
