Jayapura (ANTARA) - The funeral procession of former governor of Papua, Lukas Enembe, was welcomed by singing and wailing, locally known as hela-hili, by the Sentani tribe community in Kampung Harapan, East Sentani Sub-District, Jayapura, Papua, on Thursday.

Customary leader of Sentani, Dantje Nere, stated in Sentani on Thursday that the indigenous people, who are also members of the local Kampung Harapan Filadelfia Church's congregation, feel a great sense of loss following the demise of Enembe, who made a significant contribution to the local community.

"Today, we are standing in front of the Lukas Enembe Stadium and the Kampung Harapan Filadelfia Church, which are the work of the late LE (initials of Lukas Enembe)," he remarked.

According to Nere, hela-hili is a form of the deepest sense of grief expressed to send off the passing of the highest leader, namely by lamenting in the Sentani regional language while dancing and waving leaves and flowers.

"We appreciate the procession crowd because they were very orderly and respected the culture of the Sentani tribe while welcoming the arrival of Mr Lukas Enembe's coffin in Kampung Harapan," he stated.

He noted that all village, customary, and church communities awaited the arrival of Enembe's coffin with flowers as a form of love for the former governor.

"Goodbye, Mr Lukas Enembe. We, the people of the Sentani tribe, really love and are proud to have you," he remarked.

Chairman of the Sentani Tribal Customary Council, Orgenes Kaway, stated that the arrival of the body of late Lukas Enembe was highly awaited by all Papuan people in the Sentani customary area.

"The late Lukas Enembe was the best son of Papua who made many changes to development in this land," he stated.

Related news: Life of Lukas Enembe, former governor of Papua
Related news: Proud of Papua emerging as XVI Peparnas champion: governor



Translator: Agustina Estevani, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023