Jayapura, Indonesia — June 20, 2025
In a powerful display of cultural diplomacy and community engagement, Task Force Operation Peace Cartenz 2025 took part in a traditional bride-price procession held by the Saireri-Serui community in Papua—a gesture symbolizing a new, more inclusive path toward peace.
The ceremony, which took place in Tanjung Ria, North Jayapura District, was more than a customary event. It became a symbolic space of reconciliation between state authorities and local people. Members of the task force, dressed in traditional attire, did not merely observe—they actively joined the procession, signaling a shift in their role from enforcers to empathetic participants who listen, learn, and respect.
Brigadier General of Police Dr. Faizal Ramadhani, Head of Peace Operation Cartenz 2025 (Kaops), stated that Papua cannot be approached solely through a security lens. “We are not here only as guardians, but as members of the community who believe peace must grow from its roots—culture and tradition,” he said.
This cultural engagement represents a strategic shift in response to long-standing mistrust and tension between the Indonesian state and segments of the Papuan population. According to Chief Commissioner of Police Yusuf Sutejo, Head of Public Relation (Kasatgas Humas), peace is not just about law and stability, but about the emotional bonds that can be built through genuine respect for local heritage.
“Tradition is not just ritual—it is the language through which communities express trust and meaning. When we are welcomed into these cultural spaces, it means we are one step closer to realizing a truly peaceful Papua,” he explained.
The bride-price ceremony, complete with rhythmic tifa drums and ancestral customs, served as a reminder that peace is not merely the absence of conflict. It is built with intention—through cultural understanding, shared experiences, and the honoring of deep-rooted values.
On that Friday in Jayapura, a small but significant step was taken—not through force or negotiation, but through a mutual embrace of identity and humanity.
