No Other Choices Because Access Is Difficult To Reach, Teluk Wondama Regency Government Rents Election Logistics Transport Helicopters

Teluk Wondama Regent Hendrik Syake Mambor when interviewed by media crews in Manokwari, West Papua, Monday. (ANTARA/Fransiskus Salu Weking)

MANOKWARI - The Regency Government (Pemkab) of Wondama Bay, West Papua, leased a helicopter unit for the logistics distribution of the 2024 General Election to disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas that are difficult to reach by land transportation. Teluk Wondama Regent Hendrik Syake Mambor said one in 13 districts was difficult to access using land transportation, namely the Naikere District. "Yes, the government has to rent helicopters so that election logistics can be sent," said Hendrik Mambor in Manokwari, Antara, Monday, January 29. He explained that the local government's readiness to rent helicopters had been discussed together with the KPU, Bawaslu, and security forces. This means that the process of distributing election logistics to Naikere District will be escorted by Teluk Wondama Police personnel and Military District Commander 1811/Wondama Bay. "We usually rent helicopters from Nabire or from the Indonesian Helivida Foundation," explained Mambor. He ensured that all areas in Wondama Bay were connected to telecommunications and internet networks that would facilitate the vote recapitulation process. However, election organizers need to anticipate weather changes that could hinder the distribution of logistics to 142 polling stations (TPS). "Local governments have not yet received a logistics distribution schedule, especially to polling stations that must use helicopters," said Hendrik Mambor. Head of Teluk Wondama Police, Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police Hari Sutanto, said that all polling stations were included in unsafe areas with the category of 134 vulnerable polling stations and eight very vulnerable polling stations spread over 13 districts. The dozens of districts in question are Wasior, Windesi, Duairi Bay, Wondiboy, Wamesa, Rumberpon, Naikere, Rasiei, Kuri Wamesa, Roon, Roswar, Nikiwar, and Sough Jaya. "Distric Naikere there are six very vulnerable polling stations, and Wamesa District two polling stations are very vulnerable. These eight polling stations are of special concern, especially the Naikere District," explained Hari Sutanto. He explained that geographically, the Naikere District is still difficult to reach and borders directly with Kaimana Regency and Nabire Regency, Central Papua Province.

Several villages in Naikere have so far been isolated areas that can only be reached by helicopter or on foot for days. "In addition, the Naikere District is vulnerable because it is a crossing area for armed criminal groups (KKB)," he said.