The Papua Provincial Election Commission held a Peaceful Campaign Declaration event in order to inaugurate the campaign period for regional head candidates who will compete in the political contest, namely the upcoming regional head elections. The Chairperson of the Papua Provincial Election Commission, Steve Dumbon, invited several community leaders to the event by holding it in an open space so that it could be attended by the public on September 25. The event was also attended by sympathizers of each regional head candidate who were also the targets of the declaration to carry out the campaign peacefully. As fellow citizens living in Papua and who will elect a leader who is also an Indigenous Papuan in accordance with the Special Autonomy that has been implemented, a peaceful general election is a shared responsibility.
The Peaceful Campaign Declaration included two pairs of Candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor, namely Benhur Tomi Mano-Yeremias Bisai and Matius Fakhiri-Aryoko Rumaropen. The two pairs of candidates represent the total number of regional head and deputy regional head candidate pairs throughout Papua Province, which reached 31 candidate pairs. The Papuan People’s Assembly appealed to supporters who support each pair of regional head candidates to understand the importance of unity and peace. The general election will take place and then a legitimate regional head will be elected according to the number of votes obtained, so whoever is elected later, is considered the best and needs the trust of the people to lead Papua during his term of office.
Community leaders who attended the Peaceful Campaign Declaration were representatives from the Regional Government, General Election Commission, State Civil Apparatus, Indonesian National Army, Indonesian National Police, Representatives from the Papuan People’s Assembly, Traditional Leaders from several tribes in Papua, Women’s Leaders, Youth Leaders, and also Religious Leaders representing several religions that are members of the Interfaith Harmony Forum. They jointly agreed and signed the peaceful campaign declaration script that had been read by representatives of the candidate pairs and understood by their supporters who were present at the declaration location.
The hope from the implementation of the Peaceful Campaign Declaration attended by community leaders is that they can be an example and also remind the community to maintain a peaceful and conducive atmosphere during the campaign period. The regional head elections to be held in November are expected to take place in accordance with the principles and applicable laws and regulations. Security forces are also ready to oversee the campaign process both directly and in cyberspace such as social media. Therefore, people who are members of the sympathizers of regional head candidates should campaign peacefully in accordance with the declaration that has been jointly agreed upon.