Career
Papilaja began lecturing at Pattimura in 1982,and continued to do so until 2010. He also lectured at the Indonesian Christian University Maluku [ id ] and at Pelita Harapan University. [2] In 1999,Papilaja was elected into Ambon's Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) as an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle member,becoming the speaker of the legislature. In 2001,the DPRD elected him as mayor,with United Development Party legislator Syarief Hadler as deputy. [3]
Ambon was suffering from religious violence as Papilaja was sworn into office,as part of the ongoing sectarian conflict in the province. In order to end the violence,Papilaja met national leaders,foreign NGO representatives and United Nations officials to involve them in the peace process. Within the city government,he pushed for Muslim and Christian employees to mix –due to prior violence,employees had been self-segregating on religious lines. [4] Another policy of Papilaja was to establish ad hoc markets guarded by security officers to replace markets which were destroyed in the violence,which also promoted commercial activity across religious lines. [4] With the help of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Papilaja also approached Jafar Umar Thalib,commander of the Muslim militia Laskar Jihad active in Ambon. By 2002,Papilaja had managed to convince Thalib to accept the Malino II Accord and to disband Laskar Jihad in exchange for guarantees that Christians would not attack Muslim neighborhoods.
Papilaja also introduced fit and proper tests for leadership positions in the city government,reducing accusations of preferences in the selection of officials. [4] As the situation in Ambon calmed down,the city government began to take part in the development of regions of Ambon Island outside the city's jurisdiction. It also sponsored sports events to improve interreligious relations and repatriated refugees who had fled the city. Papilaja was reelected for a second term in the direct mayoral election of 2006,winning 52,195 votes (36.1%) in a four-way race. [8] Richard Louhenapessy was elected to replace him in 2011. [9]
During the 2009 presidential election,Papilaja joined the campaign team of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,against PDI-P's candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri. [10]
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