Observer: The Issue Of The Vice President Gibran Based In Papua Does Not Want To Cover Up The Issu Of Impeachment

Political communication observer at Esa Unggul University, Jamiluddin Ritonga, highlighted the issue of Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka who was assigned an office in Papua, although later this issue was clarified by the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections, Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

This issue then reminded again of Gibran's impeachment letter sent by the TNI Retired Forum to the DPR and MPR RI.

Nevertheless, Jamiluddin assessed that the issue of Gibran's office assignment in Papua had nothing to do with the issue of impeachment. This is because the news was raised by different parties, one side by the government and the other by the retired TNI.

"The issue of Vice President (Vice President) Gibran Rakabuming Raka will have an office in Papua, which may not be correlated with the issue of Gibran's impeachment which was rolled out by the retired TNI. Two issues do not seem to be related to each other," Jamiluddin told VOI, Wednesday, July 9.

It is known that the issue of Gibran having an office in Papua was first sparked by Coordinating Minister Yusril with the intention of conveying the Vice President's assignment to Papua to accelerate development on Cenderawasih Earth, along with his role as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua. However, the issue became crowded because Gibran considered it to be transferred to Papua.

This issue is also getting warmer because previously Gibran was attacked by the impeachment issue proposed by the retired TNI. Even so, Jamiluddin assessed that the issue of Gibran having an office in Papua was not to cover up the issue of impeaching the son of the 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

"So, the issue of Gibran going to have an office in Papua is not intended to cover up the issue of Gibran's impeachment. Because the Gibran issue based in Papua is not sexy enough and strong enough to cover up the issue of Gibran's impeachment," he said.

In the counter of the issue, continued Jamiluddin, stronger issues should be created so that they can drown out certain issues. That way, he said, the issue could cover up the issue that would be drowned.

"But this does not apply to issues related to Gibran. The issue of Gibran's impeachment seems stronger than the issue that Gibran will have an office in Papua. Therefore, it is too early to state that the Gibran issue based in Papua is deliberately packaged and raised to cover up the issue of Gibran's impeachment," he said.

Moreover, the issue of Gibran's transfer to Papua was revealed by Yusril who was considered not to like to play with issues. So according to Jamiluddin, Yusril's clarification regarding Gibran's Papuan office did not mean anything.

"After all, Yusril doesn't think he likes to play with issues. Therefore, there is very little chance that Yusril will want to play on issues like that," he concluded.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights and Imipas, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, emphasized that Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka would not have an office in Papua.

This affirmation was conveyed to straighten out the news of a number of media that said Gibran would change offices as part of the assignment to accelerate the development of Papua.

"It is impossible for the Vice President to move offices to Papua as reported by several media," said Yusril when confirmed in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, July 9.

According to Yusril, the position of the Vice President cannot be separated from the President. Both must remain in the state capital, as stipulated in the 1945 Constitution.

Assignment of Gibran in Papua, said Yusril, relates to his role as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy Development in Papua, which was formed based on Article 68A of Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Special Autonomy in Papua.

The special agency, he continued, has the task of synchronizing, harmonizing, evaluating, and coordinating the implementation of special autonomy in Papua. This agency was formed through Presidential Regulation Number 121 of 2022 during the administration of President Joko Widodo.

The body structure consists of the Vice President as chairman, as well as the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas, Minister of Finance, and representatives of each province in Papua as members.

Even so, Yusril emphasized that those who will have an office in Papua are the secretariat and the personnel implementing the agency, not the Vice President directly.

"As Chairman of the Special Agency, if the Vice President and ministers are in Papua, of course they can have temporary office at the secretariat," he explained.

Thus, said Yusril, the news that said Gibran would move offices to Papua was inappropriate.

"So, the Vice President will not have an office in Papua, let alone move offices to Papua," he said.