JAYAPURA – Acting Governor of Papua, Agus Fatoni, held a gathering with Muslim leaders—including religious leaders, ustadz, mosque administrators, and representatives from 38 community associations in Papua. The meeting took place at the Papua Governor’s Office in Jayapura on Tuesday (22/07/2025).

“We must be grateful for the opportunities we are given. The blessings granted to us should be appreciated—because if we are grateful, Allah will increase our blessings. These meetings reflect our shared commitment to safeguarding the Papua we all love,” said Fatoni.

The meeting aimed to foster a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere ahead of the Revote for the Governor and Vice Governor of Papua, scheduled for August 6. This was seen as an essential step to maintain a stable and conducive environment across the region.

“As the days go by, political dynamics are heating up everywhere. Therefore, your role—ladies and gentlemen—is crucial in maintaining stability,” Fatoni said.

“On August 6, let’s encourage the public to exercise their voting rights wisely and choose their leaders under their conscience,” he added.

Fatoni emphasized that his current assignment in Papua is to ensure the revote process runs safely and smoothly until a definitive Governor and Vice Governor of Papua are elected. He noted that religious and community leaders play a vital role in maintaining peace in society.

On this occasion, Fatoni expressed hope that religious leaders and community association heads would educate and encourage their members to preserve peace and respect each other’s choices.

“Let’s maintain the calm and peaceful atmosphere we already have, and continue to preserve it. Security, peace, and tolerance are largely determined by us—and by our leaders, whether in government, civil society, religious institutions, or even neighborhood leaders,” Fatoni explained.

“We are grateful that Papua remains peaceful and safe to this day, which allows the wheels of the economy to turn smoothly. If there were conflicts, none of this would be possible,” he added.

Fatoni also stressed the importance of maintaining Papua’s positive image both nationally and internationally. It can be achieved by showing the world that Papua is capable of conducting democratic processes with dignity, peace, and tolerance.

“We also need to manage online publications because they are accessible globally. If there is positive news about Papua, we must share it—so that Papua is known as a safe, peaceful, tolerant, and orderly region,” said Fatoni.

“When public trust is high, community participation will also be high. We must combat hoaxes and hate speech in cyberspace with positive information about Papua’s beauty,” he continued.

The event was attended by leaders of Islamic organizations in Papua, heads of Islamic boarding schools, and mosque administrators. Also present were representatives from 38 regional community associations across Indonesia—from Aceh to Papua. ***