VP Ma’ruf Amin: Development in Papua Must Harmonize Prosperity with Security

Vice President Ma’ruf Amin accompanied by Ibu Wury Ma’ruf Amin visits MacArthur Monument in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (06/11/2021) (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information Affairs of Vice President’s Secretariat)

The Government renewed its commitment to create synergy to accelerate the development in Papua from the central, provincial, and regency/city governments to the people of Papua. Therefore, a good acceleration and maximum result for the people also need synergy in the development of prosperity and security.

“Therefore, the development in Papua must harmonize prosperity with security,” Vice President Ma’ruf Amin emphasized during his press statement after visiting MacArthur Monument in Jayapura, Papua, on Saturday (06/11).

Furthermore, the Vice President said that harmonization can be created by, among others, fulfilling the aspirations of the people in Papua from various elements, so the result will be realistic and in accordance with the needs and aspirations of the local people.

“We want to develop Papua in accordance with the people’s needs and aspirations, be it customary people or all of the people,” he said.

In this regard, the Vice President added that in his visit to close the National Sports Week (PON) in Papua few times ago, he had a coordinating meeting with customary figures, religious figures, the youth and women from various clusters.

“We open a dialogue with the local champion of the various clusters, so they can express their views, and we collect their views for formulating realistic programs,” he said.

On the other hand, he opines that the acceleration of the development can be impeded if the security cannot be ensured. To that end, the Vice President has ordered Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs to lead coordination on security in Papua with Commander of the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI), Head of the State Intelligence Agency, Chief of the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and Minister of Home Affairs, so the security measures in Papua can be well-integrated.

“Indeed, the development cannot be accelerated if the security is out of control and not conducive. Therefore, these two aspects should be an integrated program,” he explained.

“Therefore, last time I had a coordinating meeting with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs, TNI Commander, Polri Chief, Head of the State Intelligence Agency, and Minister of Home Affairs to coordinate further measures,” he continued.

Concluding his press statement, the Vice President expressed his hope that the Government’s efforts related to harmonization of prosperity and security in Papua can lead the formulated acceleration program to succeed, and to diminish unsatisfied feeling and doubts towards the Government that could possibly occur.

“That way, we hope that it will give confidence to the people of Papua, the figures of Papua, including government figures, customary figures, religious figures, and women figures. We will continue to have dialogues in order to diminish the doubts. If the unsatisfied feeling can be diminished, we hope that it will contribute positively to the security in Papua. That is what the Central Government hopes,” he remarked.  (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information Affairs of Vice President’s Secretariat /UN) (AW/MUR)