Gibran Rakabuming Raka Arrives in Kupang, Immediately Intercepted by Students
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka was intercepted by students on arrival for a working visit in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Thursday evening, 21 May 2026. The students who intercepted Gibran came from various organisations affiliated with the Aliansi Peduli Kemanusiaan (Alliance for Humanity Care).
Asten Bait, head of the Kupang Regency Students Association, said they conveyed a range of grievances and issues in Amfoang, Kupang Regency, to Gibran. According to Asten, the meeting took place outside the students’ original plan.
‘Today we had no intention of staging a protest, but it happened because the Vice President came down and met with us; we conveyed the problems in Amfoang,’ he said after meeting Gibran.
In the meeting, Asten conveyed the complaints of the people of Kupang Regency, especially Amfoang, regarding road and bridge infrastructure, a Pratama hospital that has not yet become operational, and fuel shortages.
‘All the points of our demands have been conveyed to the Vice President and he is committed to giving special attention to Amfoang,’ he said.
Asten said Gibran responded by stating that he would give special attention to the fuel shortage issue, the plan to introduce a petrol station in Amfoang, road and bridge improvements, and the handling of the hospital that has not yet operated.
‘When we talk about the demands we put forward, there will be special attention,’ he added.
He criticised that so far the Central Government when visiting the regions tends to look only at the positives, while problems in the interior are overlooked.
‘From what we have seen so far, when the Central Government goes down to the villages they only see the good. But the bad in the hinterland often goes unseen,’ Asten asserted.
He hopes the meeting with the Vice President can serve as a basis for the Central Government to allocate development budgets in Amfoang, Amarasi, Fatuleu, and other areas in Kupang Regency that still lack infrastructure.
‘Our hope is that by meeting with the Vice President this could become a signal and commitment from the central government to then budget funds for Amfoang,’ he said.
Gibran and his delegation arrived at El Tari International Airport Kupang at 19:50 WITA and were welcomed directly by the NTT Forkopimda leadership.
(dpw/dpw)