Jokowis Proven Promises for Papua

October 21, 2016 PapuaNews 0 Comment development, jokowi in papua, nawacita,

papua, papua development, west papua
In his campaign, two years ago (2014), when Joko Widodo nominated himself as a
presidency candidate, he visited Papua three times. His first arrival was in 5 April 2014.
Eight months later, exactly in 27 December 2014, he came back to this land of the rising
sun. His last visit to Papua was in Merauke, in 10 May 2015. In his visit, the man who
was born in Surakarta made several promises regarding the welfare of the Papuan people
if he was elected as President.

Jokowi during his visitation in Papua. nasional.kompas.comAfter his two years of

leadership, Jokowi has proven his promises for Papua. According to papuanews, here are
the goals realization of Jokowi in Papua :
1. Improve the Welfare of Army Soldiers and Teachers in the Border Area
Army soldiers and teachers at the border area, such as Borneo and Papua are the front
liners who maintain the territory and educate our future leaders. Therefore, at his
presidency campaign, Jokowi conveyed his wish to make them more prosperous.
After winning the election and becomes the president of Indonesia, he is making the
efforts to make them more prosperous. For example, Jokowi through the Ministry of
Education (Kemendikbud), enabled 1000 teachers to attend the program to improve the
quality of education with scholarship in four universities in Papua. Eventually these
teachers will get their bachelor degree.
For the army soldiers, Jokowi with the Ministry of Village Development and

Underdeveloped Area will build 6,000 transmigration houses for the armies that are on
duty in Borneo. Other facilities such as, community health center (puskesmas), places of
worship, and even industrial area will also be developed.

2. Alleviates Conflict in the Papuan Community

Peace between tribes in Papua is everyones dream. Not only for the Papuan people but
also for the whole nation. Hence, conflict in Papua, no matter how small, is a serious
issue for the country.
In his campaign, Jokowis promises Papua that he will going to alleviates conflict in
Papuan community. Jokowi himself said that the key to solving conflict is
communication. If the leader often visits his people, like visiting Papua, then dialog will
be established, said Jokowi in a Traditional Meeting Hall of Yoka Village, two years ago.
Jokowi added, The Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) need to protect the security from
Sabang to Marauke. Therefore, the most important thing is the welfare of the people.
When he got elected as the president of Indonesia, there are several actions that he has
taken to resolve the conflict in Papua. One of them is, by nurturing Papua with new
approaches, not with the oppressive security approach, but with development and
welfare.
These two approaches are made by Jokowi because they are needed by the people of
Papua. In his visit in front of hundreds of army soldiers and polices in Jayapura Korem
Base last year, he stated, We want to move our economic wheel in Papua by
constructing infrastructures, and building markets. Hopefully the people can feel the
development, he said. If its not carried out, Jokowi feared that it can make a social and
economic gap in Papua, the land with enormous natural resources.
Not only that, Jokowis decision to give clemency to Papuan political prisoners is also
considered by some people as a new approach to solve the conflicts in Papua. According
to Security and Political Observer from Indonesian Defense University, Salim Said, the
decision of Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla to give clemency to political prisoners is a new
way to pacify the conflicts in Papua. Therefore, we must give a thumbs up for this. The
presence of Jokowi in Papua is hoped to bring more peace.

3. Develop Sea highway

Jokowis promises Papua in his campaign, that he will build a sea highway as sea
transportation to connect the islands in the Indonesian archipelago. One of the supporting
factors in his decision is the need for deep sea port to create a proper route for big ships
that cross from Sabang to Merauke.
READ ALSO Transporting Unearthed Treasures of West Papua
After his election as the President, Jokowi immediately realized his promises. Besides

developing ports in other areas like Kuala Tanjung, Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Perak, and
Makassar, in Papua itself, a port has already been built, which is Wasior Port. While
Sorong Port, that is being prided upon as an international port is already under
construction since last January of 2016.
The seriousness of Jokowi-JK goverment in building sea highway must be appreciated
because one of the aims of their main program in Nawacita (nine hopes, goals, dreams) is
to eliminate things that that trouble Papua, namely expensive cost of goods due to the
challenging transportation access. With the sea highway, new hopes arise to get the
economic wheels in Papua going in our maritime nation.

4. Develop Internet Network Access

In the high tech era of todays world, internet is a primary need. Therefore, the realization
of equal distribution of internet access must reach Papua. Jokowis promises Papua that
he going to build a much faster internet speed in there. Recently, the government of
Indonesia through the Ministry of Information and Communication are seriously
developing internet in the Papuan villages with festival of Information and
Communication Technology for Villages (Destika).
Destika was held in Jayapura District, Papua (28/9/16). The event has already been held
for the fourth time and expected to develop the villagers in Papua regarding information
technology. The implementation of Destika aims to liberate remote places from outside
world alienation. With the presence of healthy internet, the government can educate
people to get a balanced information about Papua.
Budiman Sudjatmiko, member of House of Representatives Commission II in Papua who
is also the head organizer of Destika said that various technologies addressed for the
people in villages are introduced in this event. For example, video streaming platform to
show education and entertainment for the villagers.
With the help of Universities and other education organizations, e-learning will be made.
Were also cooperating with Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), therefore, they do not
have to go to the villages. They can simply create an educational channel on how to
reduce and prevent diseases, said Budiman, cited fromdetik.com.
Jokowis government also develops the East Palapa Ring for better internet access in the
eastern part of Indonesia, including Papua. The government has already signed a contract
in the amount of 5,1 trillion IDR for the East Palapa Ring project. The project will reach
the eastern territory of Indonesia such as, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, West Papua, and
even remote places in Papua.

5. Develop Trans Papua Road

As the biggest island in Indonesia, the geographical conditions of Papua that is
surrounded with hills, mountains, and seas, has made the access to Papua becomes

challenging, and in need of highway access that can connect the areas in Papua. On that
basis, developing roads are at the top priority of the program, Jokowis promises Papua
that he will going to do that in his campaign, two years ago.
Since it was first built in 2014, Trans Papua Road has already crossed many areas in
Papua. According todetik.com, in its first year (2014) there was still 827 km unconnected road because that area was covered by thick forests. Then, in 2015, a total of
169 km of roads has already finished. Currently, only a total of 658 km of road is still
under construction.
The seriousness of Jokowi-JK government in keeping their campaign promises two years
ago in Papua, should be appreciated and supported by all parties, because Papua is an
inseparable part of NKRI. As quoted from Jokowi, there is no hidden intention in
developing Papua other than to develop the welfare of the people in Papua. The touch of
Jokowi in Papua means realized promises in this land of the rising sun.
READ ALSO Melanesian Spearhead Group Members Praise West Papua Developments
6. Reducing Unemployment
Unemployment is one of the most crucial problem in every countries, whether developed,
developing, or underdeveloped. That is why Jokowi is giving more attention to Papua. As
a country with a lot of natural resources, Papua, quoted from Jokowi during his 2014
campaign, will not let this potential being mismanaged (managed by foreign parties).
Jokowis promises Papua that by doing that, the unemployment level in there will going
to be reduce.
Therefore, in the future, we want those resources to be managed by us (Indonesia),
hence it will help to bring many employments, he said.
Jokowi also stated, that if the natural resources can be managed by our own people,
automatically the unemployment in Papua will slowly decrease. The reason being, that
natural resources that have been managed by foreign parties were used to accelerate the
economic wheel of their own country.
So, after two years had passed, has Jokowi proven his promises to eliminate
unemployment in Papua? The realization of Jokowis promise can be seen in the three
programs that each gives contribution to lowering unemployment, such as developing the
Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sorong, Papua, building Mama-Mama Market in Papua,
and developing transportation infrastructures that can decrease unemployment.
First, develop SEZ in Sorong. Sorong is chosen as one of the region that will have special
economic autonomy. It has been inaugurated by Jokowi yesterday, under the Government
Regulation (PP) Number 31 of 2016, within a 524,7 hectare of land.
Citing from Wikipedia, Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a region within boundaries that
includes a territory that can accommodate economic functions and have certain
facilitates. SEZ is developed by selecting a region that has geo-economic and geo-

strategic advantages that can accommodate industrial, export, import, and other economic
activities with high economic values which can compete internationally.
Sorong is selected as SEZ because its a very internationally strategic area. Its included
in a trade line between Asia, Pacific, and Australia. While for the resources, in Sorong,
especially in Mayamuik District where Sele Strait is located, there are many potentials in
the fisheries sector and sea transportation. This location is very strategic for developing
logistical industry, export management, and also for marine tourism.
That Geo-economic and Geo-strategic factor can became a gate to accelerate the
economical wheel in Papua. If it runs well, there will be many sales activities that can
increase the welfare of the Papuan people, as promised by Jokowi.
Second, building Mama-mama (ladies) Market, as its already been discussed in
papuanews, market holds an important role in the economical wheel, in every region and
even countries. By building markets in Papua, Jokowi wants to create more opportunity
for the people. Improving access to economic activities can decrease unemployment in
Papua.
Third, building Road Infrastructure for Transportation. No matter how great the economic
program to increase income, it will be pointless if its not supported by good
transportation infrastructure. Therefore, infrastructure is urgently needed as a direct
connection between the economic wheel and people welfare. This is proven by Jokowis
decision to build many infrastructures like, Trans Papua Road, Sea Toll, and Train in
Papua, that is still under construction.
Currently, developments after developments are being done in Papua. Schools, markets,
airports and ports are being seriously developed. Some are even already completed.
Jokowi has stepped up his game for improving Papua, as you can also read in Jokowis
Golden Touch in Papua.
Jokowi has taken the commitment to develop Papua. From the way he has proven his
promises and make developments in Papua in to his priority, it seems like he will
continue to make positive changes in the land of Papua. With his plans and developments
in Papua underway, not only the economy of Papua will improve, the welfare of its
people will also increase.