Lukas Enembe passed away, prompting half-mast flag request from govt

Jayapura, Jubi - Former Papua Governor Lukas Enembe passed away at the Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital in Jakarta on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. His death was due to kidney failure, according to Enembe's lawyer, Petrus Bala Pattyona. The Papua Provincial Government then requested the community to fly the Indonesian flag at half-mast to mourn and honor the late Lukas Enembe. The request was conveyed through a Circular Letter from the Acting Governor of Papua, Ridwan Rumasukun, on Tuesday.

Yohanis Walilo, the Acting Assistant I for Governance in the Papua Provincial Secretariat, stated in a press release on Tuesday that the directive was addressed to government agencies, the military and police, religious leaders, social institutions, and all citizens in the province from the 27th to the 29th of December 2023, as a symbol of mourning.

Walilo emphasized that Lukas Enembe was not only a Papuan son but also one of the finest leaders in Papua.

"The Acting Governor of Papua, the Acting Secretary of the Papua Provincial Secretariat, and the entire community deeply mourn this loss. We received this sad news while celebrating Christmas," he expressed.

Regarding the funeral arrangements for Lukas Enembe, Walilo mentioned that discussions were ongoing with the family and the church.

Enembe's body is currently lying in state at Sentosa Funeral Home in Abdul Rachman Saleh Street, Central Jakarta. The body is scheduled to be flown to Jayapura on Wednesday night and is expected to arrive at Theys Eluay Sentani Airport on Thursday.

Walilo urged everyone to maintain peace in Papua Land, in honor of Lukas Enembe's passing.

"We urge all residents to collectively maintain peace and security, as well as to pray as a form of respect for the deceased," he added.

The late Lukas Enembe served as Governor of Papua for two terms, from 2013-2018 and 2018-2023. Prior to that, Enembe held positions as Deputy Regent and Regent of Puncak Jaya. He began his career in the bureaucracy as a civil servant. (*)

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