TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Religious Affairs Ministry introduced a program dubbed Kita Cinta Papua or We Love Papua as an effort to build a bridge of solidarity from the country’s westernmost province Aceh to the easternmost province Papua.

“This bridge is established to intensify dialogue between religious figures across the region. So to reach there, the ministry initiates the Kita Cinta Papua program,” said Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi on Tuesday, July 14.

According to him, the core of the program is to improve education and religious affairs in Papua through opening education institutions and houses of prayers. The ministry will also grant scholarships for the province’s young generations to get an education in a variety of Indonesian cities.

“The other program is to strengthen relations between Papuan community leaders,” the minister added.

Institutions that will lead the program are the Directorate General for Christian Community Guidance, the Directorate General for Catholic Community Guidance, and the Interfaith Communication Forum (FKUB).

According to Fachrul, they will be backed by all national and regional institutions in the ministry and cooperate with all ministries, institutions, regional governments, religious organizations, humanitarian organizations, and all elements supporting Papua.

The Religious Affairs Ministry had invited a number of parties who have served and have comprehension about Papua to explore social and cultural conditions in the province. “This program will use the ministry’s budget,” Fachrul Razi concluded.

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DEWI NURITA