Prejudice in Papua

Located 2,500 meters above sea level, the mountainous Tolikara regency is nearly isolated from the outside world. It is not easy to reach this area. Traveling there by land, through the Wamena regency, takes seven hours over mostly damaged roads. The easiest way to reach these mountains is by aircraft. Yet, despite the remote mountainous location, the Tolikara youths are not alienated.

Each year, they travel to neighboring nations, such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Palau, and sometimes to Israel. These trips are facilitated by the Indonesian Evangelical Church (GIDI), in cooperation with their missionary counterparts in various countries. An agreement with Israel is clearly posted on its website. "Jesus and Israel cannot be forsaken. They are the chosen people of Allah," said former GIDI Youth Chairman, Wekis Wonda, last week.

July 28, 2015