PRIME NEWS POST 

The INDONESIAN, (JAKARTA)— The “Sunday of Compassion” (Minggu Kasih) program introduced by National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto has received full backing from Albert Hama, SH, MH, Chairman of the Indonesian Melanesian Scholars Forum (FORKAMSI). Speaking as a Christian, Albert voiced his strong support for the initiative, describing the police’s presence within the community’s religious life as a humane approach to building fellowship, mutual care, and trust between law‑enforcement officers and the public.

For Albert, Sunday of Compassion is far more than just a police activity held at church venues. He views it as a valuable space for dialogue and interaction between police personnel and members of the public, including Christian congregations, framed within a spirit of brotherhood and national unity.

He added that strengthening the bond between the Indonesian National Police (Polri) and society is a positive development. Public safety and peace, he said, are built not only through law enforcement, but also through human‑centered relationships, communication, and a responsive state that listens to and understands community life.

“As a Christian, I fully support Polri’s Sunday of Compassion program. I believe this is a good initiative because it opens room for togetherness, strengthens ties, and builds communication between the police, religious congregations, and the wider public. We all hope for a peaceful, safe, and fraternal social environment,” said Albert Hama, who also serves as Chairman for the Youth, Student, and University Student Division of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian National Student Movement Alumni Association (PA GMNI).

He explained that values of compassion, a central part of Christian teaching, also emphasize care for others, mutual respect, peace, and fellowship. Those values, he said, align with the goal of building a harmonious society across differences of religion, ethnicity, and background.

## Sunday of Compassion as a Platform to Build Public Trust

Albert argued that relations between the police and the community must keep improving through open, everyday‑life‑oriented engagement. He praised police officers who are willing to hold conversations, hear public aspirations, and build positive rapport with religious leaders and congregants.

In his view, programs such as Sunday of Compassion can serve as a bridge to strengthen public confidence in the police institution. Direct, face‑to‑face communication creates opportunities to discuss social and security concerns within the community in a more open manner.

Responding to criticism from several netizens and civil‑society groups regarding the program’s implementation at church sites, Albert urged all stakeholders to respond thoughtfully and avoid rushing to form negative judgments.

He noted that criticism is a normal part of democracy and can serve as constructive input to refine government programs. Even so, he said, the good‑faith objective of building better police‑community relations also deserves to be viewed objectively.

“Of course we must respect differing opinions and criticism. But I hope a program designed to foster togetherness is not turned into a source of suspicion and division. Let us weigh its benefits with an open mind,” he stated.

Albert stressed that support for Sunday of Compassion must go hand‑in‑hand with respect for churches as sacred places of worship. Coordination with church leaders, proper regard for worship protocols, and clear understanding with congregations are essential to ensure activities run smoothly without disrupting worshippers.

For him, the police’s community outreach and respect for religious life are not opposing goals. Both can run side‑by‑side when built on communication, mutual respect, and the shared objective of preserving social harmony.

Albert also addressed public discussion about the three‑finger gesture shown by several pastors in delivering social messages. He cautioned against drawing quick conclusions about any symbol without understanding its full context and intended meaning.

In a democratic society, every citizen has the right to voice concern over social, humanitarian, and justice‑related issues, he said. Differing forms of expression and symbolic gestures should therefore be met with maturity rather than used as a reason for confrontation.

He hoped public conversations over symbols and messaging would not overshadow the larger priority: preserving fellowship, respecting differences, and building a peaceful nation.

“We must not spend more time debating symbols than building brotherhood. As fellow Indonesians, we must uphold compassion, peace, tolerance, and mutual respect,” Albert said.

## Support for a Humane, Community‑Oriented National Police

Looking ahead, Albert expressed hope that Sunday of Compassion will be implemented sustainably and deliver real, tangible benefits, rather than functioning only as a ceremonial event. He encouraged expanded communication channels between Polri, religious leaders, house‑of‑worship administrators, youth groups, and other community sectors.

As a Christian and FORKAMSI Chairman, Albert said unity and social harmony are a shared responsibility. The police need public support to maintain security, while communities deserve a police force that operates humanely, professionally, and reliably.

He also conveyed his appreciation to National Police Chief General Suyudi Ario Seto for developing a community‑closer engagement framework through the Sunday of Compassion program.

“My hope is that this program continues moving forward, with its benefits increasingly felt on the ground. We want the police to grow closer to society, people of all faiths to live in peace, and every segment of the nation to safeguard our unity. As a Christian, I believe this spirit of compassion and togetherness deserves our support,” Albert Hama concluded.

Through his statement of support, Albert said he hopes Sunday of Compassion will stand as concrete proof that maintaining national security is not solely the police’s duty, but a collective obligation for all Indonesians to nurture harmony and fellowship across the country.

Reported from various media sources //photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media // news.paper