Report by Paulus Laratmase
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JAKARTA — suaraanaknegerinews.com| The atmosphere at the sixth anniversary celebration of the Indonesian Catholic Lecturers Association (IKDKI) shifted from formally ceremonial to warmly emotional on Saturday, 22 November 2025, when Prof. Dr. Robert Hammar, S.H., M.H., M.M., Rector of Caritas Indonesia University (UNCRI) Manokwari, concluded his address with an unexpected act: an a cappella rendition of a national brotherhood song that reverberated through the auditorium of Universitas Tarumanagara (UNTAR).
Before the impromptu performance, Prof. Robert delivered a reflective speech that transported the audience into the moral landscape of eastern Indonesia. His voice—steady, sincere, and resonant—emerged like a cool Papuan breeze in the heart of Jakarta’s bustle. He underscored that the state of education in Papua, past and present, demands not only policy attention but a profound moral and humanitarian commitment.
He highlighted the work of lecturers in Papua who, despite isolation and scarce resources, continue to carry the torch of knowledge.
“They are the quiet custodians of civilization,”
Prof. Robert affirmed. “The light they hold may be small, but it has never dimmed. Through the support of IKDKI and the shared dedication of academics nationwide, that light will grow brighter illuminating a future for Papua that is more just, more educated, and more humane.”
The emotional peak of the event came when the rector, without prior notice, began to sing:
“Dari ujung Tanah Aceh sampai Tanah Papua kita semua satu saudara…
Indonesia tempat kita bekerja…
Biar pun banyak tantangan kita bersatu sebagai satu bangsa…
Satu Nusa, Satu Bangsa, Satu Bahasa, Indonesia Nan Jaya…”
Without instruments, amplification, or musical cues, his voice carried clearly pure, unembellished, and profoundly heartfelt. The auditorium fell into a thoughtful silence, not of protocol but of genuine emotion. In that moment, the simplicity of human voice conveyed a power that many found deeply moving.
Prof. Robert’s performance also subtly evoked the long global history of a cappella, a tradition that originated in 15th-century Italian churches before spreading worldwide through groups such as the Barbershop Quartet, The Persuasions, The Manhattan Transfer, The Nylons, and contemporary Southeast Asian ensembles like Bahiyya Haneesa of Malaysia.
As his voice filled the room, it seemed to draw invisible lines connecting those historical roots to the present moment—from European monasteries to American stages, from Asian rehearsal halls to a Jakarta auditorium—carrying a universal message of unity.
The audience responded with prolonged applause, with some visibly moved. The song reminded everyone present that Indonesia is held together not only by policies or institutional frameworks but by a shared sense of belonging—by the belief that from Aceh to Papua, Indonesians remain one family.
With a simple refrain sung from the heart, Prof. Robert Hammar closed not just a speech, but a moment of national reflection, reaffirming that even a lone human voice unaccompanied and unadorned can strengthen the ties that bind a nation together.
