Reiner Brabar, Jayapura – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) strongly condemns and firmly rejects military expansion and national strategic projects in Papua, which it considers to be tools for state oppression, the seizure of indigenous land and the continuation of internal colonialism against the Papuan people.
This statement was made by PGI General Chairperson Reverend Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty following a PGI Full Working Council (MPL) meeting in Merauke from January 30 to February 2, which was attended by representatives from 105 member Synods, 30 regional PGIs from across Indonesia as well as ecumenical bodies and PGI partner institutions.
Manuputty stated that after conducting a study and listening to the voices of the indigenous Papuan communities, churches in Papua and the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), the PGI asserts that it rejects national strategic projects (PSN) in Papua.
"Churches in Indonesia support the indigenous people who reject national strategic projects or PSN in the land of Papua", he said in an official statement received by Suara Papua on Monday February 2.
Not only were PSNs rejected, Manuputty also firmly stated that the PGI rejects military expansion in Papua.
"Churches in Indonesia reject militarism and authoritarianism in Indonesia, and encourage respect for democracy and human rights. Also all churches in Indonesia reject militarism and authoritarianism in Indonesia, and encourage respect for democracy and human rights", Manuputty asserted.
In his statement, Manuputty emphasised that the declaration by participants of the 2026 PGI MPL in Merauke was for the sake of human dignity and the integrity of God's creation.
As reported earlier, Catholics and Protestants from the group Merauke Solidarity held a spontaneous action at the opening session of the 2026 PGI MP at the Hiad Sai Sports Hall in Merauke on Friday January 30.
During the spontaneous action, Merauke Solidarity urged the PGI to stand with indigenous peoples as victims in opposing PSNs and military expansion in Papua.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "PGI Dukung Masyarakat Adat Tolak Ekspansi Militer dan PSN di Papua".]
