JAYAPURA – Acting Governor of Papua, Agus Fatoni, attended a meeting with ondoafi and traditional leaders from across Papua Province at D’Jimbaran Resto, Jayapura, Papua, on Tuesday (August 12, 2025).

Also present were the Chairperson of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), Nerlince Wamuar; Papua State Intelligence Agency Chief Brigadier General Bayu Sudarmanto; heads of regional government agencies; and other leaders of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum.

On this occasion, MRP Chairperson Nerlince Wamuar said the gathering was a rare event—indeed, the first time in history that a Governor of Papua had sat down with ondoafi and traditional leaders from across the province.

“Praise God, He is so good to bring us, the traditional leaders, together with the Governor. This has never happened before, right gentlemen? It has never happened,” said Nerlince.

She praised Acting Governor Agus Fatoni as an outstanding leader, particularly for his expertise in finance, and expressed confidence that the concerns raised by the traditional leaders would be heard and addressed.

“I believe that the Governor will surely answer our concerns as traditional leaders, and that will be a gift for us, the indigenous people,” she said.

Regarding the recent Repeat Voting, Nerlince expressed hope that a definitive regional head to lead Papua Province would soon be in place.

“I believe traditional customs always guide us to think positively. We have exercised our voting rights at the polling stations, and throughout the process, the General Elections Commission has been in charge. Whatever the outcome, that is the responsibility of the organizers, and we will accept it,” she stated.

“With the Governor’s presence, we are assured that whatever happens in this land, he will be fine, and under his leadership, everything will go well until the new governor is inaugurated. I believe tonight’s meeting is not in vain and will bring blessings to us all,” she added.

At the same event, Acting Governor Agus Fatoni expressed his deep gratitude for being welcomed as part of the Papuan family and emphasized the important role of traditional leaders in the nation’s development.

“I have been given the task of serving as Acting Governor of Papua, which means I will fight as a Papuan,” Fatoni said.

“The aspirations have been conveyed and documented—these will serve as our reference and basis for policymaking. We will present them to the relevant parties, both locally and nationally. We will continue to push and fight for them, and we must keep working hard. We ask for your prayers,” he added. ***