REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TOLIKARA -- Social affairs minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said here on Wednesday that the district of Tolikara in Papua would be developed into an integrated zone.

After dedicating a mosque and 77 shops that had been restored after these were burned during an Eid al-Fitr riot on July 17, she said the government had allocated a budget of Rp1.6 trillion to develop a project aimed at accelerating economic development and improving the welfare of the people.

In this connection, the minister said she had asked for the local government to prepare a thorough plan to make the region an economic hub.

She said Tolikara has the potential to develop, including developing the premium batata it produces, which could be made into prime products.

She hoped that people would not only buy and sell this produce in its raw form but would process it into a product that will have an added value.

"So far they only take and sell it. Why would they not process and package it before selling it?" she asked.

Tolikara district head Usman Wanimbo said the zone would house the offices of all state institutions, including the military (TNI) and the police, to facilitate easy access to the people, adding that the area around the Karubaga airport would be turned into an economic center.

He said a cultural center of the Dani tribe, the biggest tribe in the Papua hilly region, would also be set up in the zone in addition to carving out an educational area.

A total of Rp15 billion had been spent on restoring the mosque and Rp10 billion to rebuild the shops in addition to Rp4 billion spent as operational cost.

Funds for restoration came from the central, provincial and district governments as well as organizations and even individuals.

The shops would be used by riot victims and other residents. She said she hoped that once the construction is completed in Tolikara, things would be better in the future.

She hoped that religious leaders would communicate more to avoid any misunderstandings or misgivings.

"If necessary, they can take turns to host meetings over a cup of tea. For example, this week the priest and later an ustadz (Islamic teacher) can play the host," she said.

A riot had broken out on July 17, 2015 while Muslims conducted an Eid al-Fitr prayer. One person had died and 11 others were wounded while a mosque and dozens of shops and houses were burned in the ensuing violence.

The police have named two suspects in connection with the incident and have submitted their dossiers to the prosecutor's office ahead of the trial.

To prevent any recurrence of violence at the Eid al-Adha prayers on Thursday, the police have deployed 347 personnel to ensure security.

Papua regional police chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw, who accompanied the minister during the visit, said, "We want the Eid al-Adha celebration to run smoothly."

A Muslim leader in Tolikara, Ustadz Ali Muhtar lauded the government's successful efforts in settling the conflict.

At a press conference attended by Minister Khofifah, Inspector General Waterpauw, district head Usman Wanimbo and Tokikara Christian leader Reverend Imanuel, he said the government, the TNI and the police were able to undertake positive efforts that produced satisfactory results.

He also praised the church leaders who allowed the restoration of the mosque.

A total of 40 cows sent by the social affairs minister, the district head and other officials are ready to be sacrificed on the occasion of Eid al-Adha on Thursday.

The number of the sacrificial animals this year is much larger than the five or six such cattle as used to be in the past.

"The meat of the sacrificed animals will also be distributed among non-Muslim residents," he said.

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