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View all search resultsArmy given six months to construct 14 roads
The Army has been given six months to complete the construction of 14 roads stretching more than 900 kilometers in Papua and West Papua provinces
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T
he Army has been given six months to complete the construction of 14 roads stretching more than 900 kilometers in Papua and West Papua provinces.
On Friday, soldiers from the 10th/Ksatria Yudha Dharma (KYD) Combat Engineering Detachment (Denzipur) were officially deployed by XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command (Kodam) chief Maj. Gen. Christian Zebua to take part in the projects managed by the Papua and West Papua Development Acceleration Unit (UP4B).
Christian expected the soldiers to do their best to open access to remote areas in both provinces.
'Gen. Budiman said the roads will be completed and passable in the next six months,' UP4B spokesman Amiruddin Al Rahab said in Jayapura on Nov. 25, adding that the Army was currently mobilizing heavy equipment to 14 project
locations.
He was referring to Army chief of staff Gen. Budiman, who officially started the project on Mansinam Island in Manokwari, the provincial capital of West Papua on Nov. 21.
Amiruddin said the military's involvement was aimed at ensuring stronger construction and accelerating the road construction at a cheaper cost.
'That's why the military is involved,' said Amiruddin.
The current road project in Papua, financed by the state budget, added Amiruddin, was not only being carried out by Army personnel but also by the National Road Center involving civilian contractors.
'The President hopes isolation in Papua can be quickly overcome, that's why the Army is involved in the road projects,' he said.
'If all of these projects were carried out by the private sector, they would take a long time to complete as they first go through a bidding process,' said Amiruddin.
Separately, Papua Indigenous Entrepreneurs Chamber (KAPP) chairman John Haluk objected to the Army's involvement in the construction of 14 roads in Papua because he said Papuan contractors were capable and KAPP was ready to provide the needed
contractors.
'It would be better if the soldiers return to their barracks instead of getting involved in the road projects.
'Papuans are traumatized by the Army's presence and its involvement is the same as intimidating Papuans,' Haluk said in Jayapura.
Haluk also regretted that the UP4B had never involved native Papuan entrepreneurs in policy-making.
'When Papuans are not involved, they don't feel like they are the owners of what's being built,' he said.
Amiruddin declined to comment on Haluk's objections.
'It's his [Haluk] opinion and he has the right to comment. I don't have to respond to it,' he said.
