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Development kept as top priority in Papua policy
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Hey mama: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, accompanied by First Lady Iriana, greets mama-mama Papua (Papuan women) in Anggi district, Pegunungan Arfak regency, West Papua, on Sunday. It was Jokowi’s first regional visit after his inauguration for his second term. (AFP/Indonesian Presidential Palace)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is making a three-day visit to Papua and West Papua the first trip of his second term, and the first sojourn to the country’s easternmost provinces since unrest broke out in the region in August.
While the President has signalled a willingness for comprehensive dialogue with Papuans, including those who support a referendum on self-determination, observers say that early indications suggest he will focus on developing infrastructure in the region as a continuation of what he did in his first term.
Jokowi left Jakarta on Saturday afternoon and arrived in Sorong, West Papua at around 9 p.m. local time.
On Sunday morning, he flew from Sorong to Manokwari and then took a helicopter to Pegunungan Arfak regency, where he was welcomed by thousands of residents as well as Regent Yosias Saroy.
Jokowi was accompanied on his visit by First Lady Iriana, Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi and Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian.
In a speech at the Irai soccer field, Jokowi said he was happy that he was able to visit the regency for the first time and spoke about a number of infrastructure projects for the area.
“As the regent and the governor have said, the first [priority] is the road between Manokwari and Pegunungan Arfak that the regent asked to be quickly completed and paved,” he told the crowd according to a release from the Presidential Press Bureau.
