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ec. 16, Online

President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo is sticking with his plan to celebrate Christmas in Papua despite mounting calls from a number of Papuan church leaders urging him to cancel his intention to join the festivities in the province, a minister has said.

'Celebrating Christmas in Papua is on the President's agenda and no one can cancel the plan,' said Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise, who also heads the National Christmas Celebration's organizing committee, in Jayapura on Tuesday.

Your comments:

Jokowi will be welcome in West Papua if he does something to stop the killings, torture, extra-judicial executions, and all other abuses committed by the Indonesian authorities there.

During the election campaign, Jokowi pledged peace and human rights in West Papua. After two months in power, he has done nothing. The killings and beatings by the Indonesian security forces continue unabated. The rights of West Papuans are trampled upon as usual.

Jan Karl

It is great to be tolerant of every religion. Keep going, Sir. I wonder whether it will be controversial or not, but since Jokowi is the President, people will automatically look at it as a good thing.

Amyeong