2) TPNPB-OPM Casts Doubt on VP Gibran's Papua Undertaking
4) Two Police Officers Involved in Illegal Ammunition Sales in Papua
“As an aide to Mr. President, I am ready to be assigned anywhere, anytime, and this is the continuation of 13th Vice President Ma’ruf Amin’s hard work in Papua,” he said on the sidelines of his visit to Mleset village in Klaten district, Central Java, on Wednesday.
He said that his assignment to spearhead the government’s endeavors to expedite development in Papua is a continuation of the work done by his predecessor.
He added that Papua’s issues are not new to him, since the Vice Presidential Secretariat has carried out several programs in the easternmost region of Indonesia under his command.
The secretariat, for instance, has delivered school supplies and laptops to Papua, as well as checked the preparations for the Free Nutritious Meals program in several districts, including Sorong and Merauke, he informed.
Therefore, as the aide to President Prabowo Subianto, Gibran reaffirmed his readiness to work anywhere and anytime based on Subianto’s executive order.
As reported earlier, during the leadership era of president Joko Widodo, vice president Amin had also spearheaded the government’s efforts to stimulate development in Papua.
Amin had highlighted three strategic measures to support efforts to expedite development and special autonomy in Papua.
First, strengthening sustainable welfare development planning in Papua with transparency and responsibility.
Second, increasing public trust in the government through a cultural and religious approach.
And third, accelerating endeavors to follow up the formation of new autonomous regions, he said.
Despite the central government’s ongoing efforts to accelerate development in Papua, the province’s human development index (HDI) is much lower than that of other Indonesian provinces.
As per data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), the HDI of Highland Papua province in 2024, for instance, stood at 54.43 percent—the lowest in Indonesia.
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Translator: Fathur R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
2) TPNPB-OPM Casts Doubt on VP Gibran's Papua Undertaking
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Movement (TPNPB-OPM) has cast doubts on Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's ability to resolve issues in the Papuan region.
TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom said the group has no business with Gibran's assignment in Papua, but he's dubious about whether the son of former President Joko Widodo could solve the issues in Papua.
"What are Gibran's qualifications to oversee problems in Papua? He's incapable, it's impossible (for him)," Sebby told Tempo on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
"That inexperienced kid can not possibly solve the problems in Papua," he added.
President Prabowo, according to Sebby, should not have assigned Gibran if he wants to solve the Papuan issues but instead establish a team under his cabinet to negotiate with the groups in Papua.
Coordinating Minister of Legal, Human Rights, Immigration, and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra previously mentioned that Gibran Rakabuming had been tasked to tackle the issues in Papua by Prabowo.
"There is even a possibility of the vice president having an office to work from Papua to handle this issue," Yusril said, as quoted in the 2024 Annual Report of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), broadcast on YouTube on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
He added that the plan has already been discussed. Yusril said resolving the Papua issue is the first special assignment Prabowo has given to Gibran.
"Later, the assignment could be in the form of a presidential regulation or a presidential decision," he added.
Gibran’s responsibilities will include accelerating development in Papua and addressing human rights concerns. Yusril noted that Gibran will monitor how authorities are managing these issues. "And how the authorities handle issues in Papua," he said.
He emphasized that this assignment reflects the government's commitment to Papua.
"The government's concern in handling Papua has been under discussion for the past few days to give a special assignment from the President to the Vice President for accelerating the development in Papua," he said.
Yusril later clarified his statement, saying that the vice president's office in Papua will be given to the secretariat and personnel of the special body chaired by the vice president.
"The vice president is not moving his office to Papua," Yusril said in a written statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
Yusril revealed that the Special Body for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua is formed based on Article 68 A of Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 21 of 2001. This body is tasked with synchronizing, harmonizing, evaluating, and coordinating the implementation of special autonomy for Papua.
This body was formed by Joko Widodo through Presidential Regulation Number 121 of 2022 and is chaired by a vice president. Its members consist of the Minister of Home Affairs, the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, the Minister of Finance, and one representative from each province in Papua.
"The secretariat office of this body is located in Jayapura, Papua. This is the coordination and administrative center to ensure more effective communication between the central and regional governments," said Yusril.
Hendrik Yaputra and Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article.
Every morning, Wulan asks herself: “Who can I help today?” As a Malaria Officer at the Hingk District Community Health Centre in Arfak Mountains, West Papua, her mission is clear – to treat those suffering from the disease and to help eliminate malaria once and for all.
Wulan has been on the frontlines of this work for a decade. When she first arrived in the Arfak Mountains in 2015, she knew the challenge ahead was immense. Papua is Indonesia’s most malaria-endemic province, accounting for 93 per cent of the country’s cases.
The fight against malaria has been long and difficult, but 2024 brought a remarkable breakthrough – the Ministry of Health officially declared Arfak Mountains malaria-free. Yet, flanked by malaria-endemic regions, the area remains vulnerable to imported cases of malaria.
Treating malaria patients in this remote area is no easy feat. The landscape is breathtaking, but unforgiving. Towering mountain ranges, dense forests and long winding roads make it challenging for healthcare workers to make home visits.
Afrida, a mother in the Hingk District, was recently struck by malaria, leaving her weak and immobile. Her husband was away and she struggled to take care of her two-year-old son Nino. “I could not work,” she recalls. “I was thinking who will feed my child if I am this weak?”
To support Wulan and other health workers in tackling malaria, UNICEF has partnered with the Ministry of Health and provincial governments to implement tailored interventions. These include community engagement and education led by health care workers and local leaders, distribution of bed nets, provision of immediate treatment for malaria symptoms and setting up surveillance systems for early detection and tracking of cases.
Religious leaders have also played an important role. “Church cadres and missionaries have been very helpful,” explains Dominggus Saeba, the Regent of Arfak Mountains. “They are always ready to support whenever there are no health workers available.”
Progress is unfolding across the country, bringing Indonesia closer to its goal of eliminating malaria nationwide by 2030. With UNICEF’s support, 15 of 75 malaria-endemic districts achieved elimination status by mid-2025, including two in Tanah Papua—South Sorong and Maybrat Districts in Southwest Papua Province.
4) Two Police Officers Involved in Illegal Ammunition Sales in Papua
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Cartenz Peace Task Force has handed over two members of the Indonesian National Police (Polri) as suspects of illegal ammunition trading to the Wamena District Attorney. The two individuals are La Ode Sultan Zaldi Saim and Praedy Wanimbo alias Kenyam.
"Previously, the two suspects were detained at the Papua Regional Police Detention Center," said the Head of the Peace Cartenz Operation, Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani in a written statement on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
The Public Relations Chief of the Cartenz Peace Task Force, Kombes Yusuf Sutejo, stated that they were involved in a case of illegal ammunition transactions in the Wamena area of Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province.
"The perpetrators are members of the Indonesian National Police who were involved in activities contrary to the principles and integrity of the institution," said Yusuf.
Using a commercial aircraft, the suspects were transported from Sentani Airport to Wamena Airport along with a police team. The entourage arrived in Wamena at 14:57 WIT (Eastern Indonesian Time).
Brigadier General Faizal Ramadhani stated that the entire process of handing over the suspects and evidence to the Wamena District Attorney proceeded smoothly and safely.
Subsequently, the two suspects were detained at the Jayawijaya Class IIB Correctional Institution to undergo further legal proceedings. "The Indonesian National Police will carry out legal proceedings in accordance with applicable regulations. There is no tolerance for anyone, including its own members, if proven to have violated the law," stated Faizal.
