JAKARTA The government's discourse to assign Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to overcome a number of problems in Papua gave birth to assumptions. On the one hand, this assignment is a natural thing, but on the other hand, it can be seen politically as division of tasks or efforts to image politics.
The plan for Gibran's assignment was sparked by the speech of the Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections (Menkumhamnas Imipas) Yusril Ihza Mahendra on the eve of the Launch of the Komnas HAM Annual Report, Wednesday (2/7/2025).
On this occasion, Yusril explained, President Prabowo Subianto had special attention to economic, political, social, and human rights (HAM) issues in Papua.
Yusril said this assignment was a form of state concern for Papua. Gibran was also said to be based there.
"I think this is the first time the president will give an assignment to deal with Papua's problems. Even the vice president's office will also be in Papua, so that the vice president works from Papua while dealing with Papua's problems," said Yusril.
However, Yusril corrected his own statement that Gibran would be based in Papua. He then explained that Gibran as vice president was mandated to accelerate development in Papua based on the provisions of Article 68A of Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy Papua.
Gibran Rakabuming Raka himself has stated his readiness to have an office in Papua, or anywhere.
"If I can have an office anywhere, it can be in Jakarta, in Kebon Sirih, it can be at IKN if December is finished, it can be in Papua, it can also be in Klaten, in Central Java," said Gibran in a press statement after visiting Central Lurik in Klaten, Central Java, Wednesday (9/7).
The former PDIP cadre said that the assignment of the vice president in Papua was nothing new. Gibran also mentioned that Ma'ruf Amin's assignment when he was still vice president. Gibran is right. Indeed, the appointment of the vice president to take care of Papua's problems is not the first time this has happened.
In 2022, Ma'ruf Amin will also be assigned the position of Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Special Autonomy for Papua (BP3OKP). The scope of Ma'ruf Amin's assignment is to ensure the sustainability of special development and autonomy in Papua.
Executive Director of Indonesia Political Opinion (IPO) Dedi Kurnia Syah said Gibran's assignment in Papua was interesting, because it would make the vice president have the authority to cover the task.
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On the other hand, this has a risk because Gibran will act on behalf of the country when the president is still in power.
"This will allow two elite powers in Papua, between the vice president and the president," said Dedi when contacted by VOI.
Nevertheless, Dedi assessed that this task was functionally not needed, considering that there was already a Minister of Human Rights, as well as the Minister of Home Affairs in charge of controlling autonomy and government issues.
"If the Vice President has a special power of attorney on duty regarding Papua, then the Minister of Human Rights, including all matters related to Papua, will report to the Vice President, this has the potential to make the Vice President have his own power," continued Dedi.
The discourse specifically for Gibran to solve the Papua problem arose amid the issue of impeaching the eldest son of former President Joko Widodo, voiced by retired Indonesian State Army (TNI).
Since winning in the 2024 presidential election, Gibran has often been the target of shooting for those who doubt his abilities as the number two person in Indonesia. Dedi also considered that there was a political nuance in Gibran's assignment to Papua.
"For that, there could be a political nuance, where Prabowo tests and shows his side to Gibran in the midst of impeachment pressure," he said.
On behalf of this special task, Prabowo may appreciate at the same time adding that Gibran has imposed power, Dedi continued, before adding that Gibran needs to directly monitor the offices in Papua if his duties include development issues.
On the other hand, political communication observer at Esa Unggul University Jamiluddin Ritonga assessed that the discourse on Gibran's assignment to an office in Papua was not related to 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.
"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.
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