DPR: The PON Moment Should Be Used By The Provincial Government To Facilitate Papuan Leaders Facing The President

President Joko Widodo plants corn in the Klamesen Village, Sorong Regency, West Papua, Monday (4/10/2021). ANTARA/HO-Agus Suparto

JAKARTA - House of Representatives Commission I member Yan Mandenas assessed that the arrival of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) at the XX National Sports Week (PON) should be used to discuss solving problems in Papua.

According to him, the Papuan Provincial Government can facilitate community leaders to face Jokowi, discuss solving the Papua problem, including security which is still happening.

"The PON moment should also be used by the provincial government to facilitate community leaders in Papua to face the President, talk about solving the Papuan problem. Instead of just focusing on PON, after that there is a new conflict, we blame the central government," Yan Mandenas told reporters on Monday, October 4.

Moreover, said the Papuan constituency legislator, many high-ranking state officials were in Papua during the PON implementation. Unfortunately, this momentum was not taken advantage of.

"This way shows our hypocrisy towards all the problems that occur in front of our eyes, and we deliberately let it drag on," said Yan.

Finally, Yan added, the community was restless and resolved it themselves with their own perspective. Because their leaders pretended to be silent.

"And only looking for big names without caring about the people who are being oppressed behind the mountains, valleys, coasts, and islands in Papua," he explained.

Yan Mandenas also asked the relevant parties to conduct an audit of the budget for the implementation of the PON, because it was suspected that there were many irregularities.

"After the implementation of the XX Papua PON, all the funding must be audited because there are many things that are deviant," said Yan Mandenas.