Vice President Ma'ruf Asks Human Rights Activists To Play A Role In Finding The Roots Of Papua's Problems

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin, accompanied by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin as ad interim Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs John Wempi Wetipo, and Acting Governor of Papua Ridwan Ruikutun/ANTARA/Andi Firdaus

JAYAPURA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked for input from religious leaders to human rights activists in Papua to find root problems that hinder welfare and security in the local area.

This was stated by a Representative from the Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) in Papua Fransina Yoteni after a dialogue with the Vice President at the Papua Governor's Office, Jayapura, Tuesday, October 10.

"He (the vice president) said we have to find the root cause of the problem, so that the root of the problem can be formulated in the master design. If the master plan for accelerating Papua's development is deemed to be lacking, it can be added," he said, quoted by ANTARA.

As 'Mama Papua', said Fransina, all problems that occur in Papua that become victims are women and children, including the right to education.

Fransina explained, nature and the local community have become one of the philosophy of Papuans' lives.

"Regarding the philosophy of Papuans' lives, there is one for him to live with nature. He lives because of nature and he maintains that nature," he said.

Therefore, when there are residents who are expelled from their homes, said Fransina, they will be considered a life threat.

The next thing he also conveyed to the Vice President was the opportunity for indigenous Papuan entrepreneurs to contribute to development in their regions.

"There must be the same opportunity for indigenous Papuan entrepreneurs to show that we are'set equally high and sit equally low'. There is mutual trust between the Papuan people and the government," he said.

According to Fransina, nature of Papua has contributed to taking on the role of the world's 'para' in the midst of the threat of a climate crisis.

"Papua contributes as one of the lungs of the world, so that Papua must be protected so that it remains a blessing. Papua is open to anyone who comes here, we take care of it together, live together," he said.