Gibran: Development in Papua Requires a Peaceful Situation

Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited Manokwari, West Papua, on Saturday, 20 June 2026. While on the easternmost island, Gibran spoke about the need for a peaceful situation for development. Gibran conveyed his views at the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Church Choir Festival in Manokwari. In his speech, the son of former president Joko Widodo stated that the government continues to strive for equitable development throughout Indonesia, including in Papua. However, according to him, development is difficult to carry out if the situation is not conducive. “However, in carrying out development, a conducive and peaceful situation is needed,” said Gibran, as quoted by the Antara News Agency. The former mayor of Solo said that development is now not only concentrated on Java Island but is also being carried out in other regions. He cited examples, noting that in Papua there has been development of projects such as hospitals, the Trans Papua road, Sekolah Rakyat (People’s Schools), Kampung Nelayan (Fishermen’s Villages), and the provision of free nutritious meals (MBG). He expressed hope that these various government programmes could reduce disparities between regions across the country. Gibran also stated that the government wants to expand access and improve the welfare of the Papuan people. The Papua region has long been known as one of the conflict areas in Indonesia. Militias such as the West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) continue to wage guerrilla warfare opposing Indonesian rule in Papua. Meanwhile, the Indonesian government deploys soldiers and police. Vice President Gibran visited several provinces in eastern Indonesia this week. During this working visit to East Nusa Tenggara, Gorontalo, and Papua from 18 to 21 June 2026, Gibran brought along five students from various universities. The students are Daffa Ulhaq from the University of Indonesia, Keletus Sakaro from Sanata Dharma University, Nolan Christopher Adam from Pelita Harapan University, Salsabila Maulida from the Indonesian Institute of Arts and Culture, and Rapid Bena Martin from Jenderal Soedirman University. Gibran said the involvement of these students is part of an effort to strengthen oversight of the implementation of the free nutritious meal programme and the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives) in the regions. This step, he said, is a follow-up to various aspirations conveyed by students regarding the implementation of the government’s priority programmes. The involvement of these students took place amidst a growing wave of student demonstrations criticising a number of government programmes, such as the free nutritious meals and the Kopdes Merah Putih. One instance occurred when an alliance of students from various campuses held a demonstration at the Bundaran HI in Jakarta on Friday, 12 June 2026. They brought at least five demands for the administration of President Prabowo Subianto, including the cessation of the MBG programme and the development of Kopdes Merah Putih.