Gibran Visits Asmat, Signs Autograph for Child and Receives Community Aspirations

Asmat, South Papua (ANTARA) - Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka took time to dialogue with women from the Asmat tribe and gave an autograph to a child during a visit to Agats District in Asmat Regency, South Papua, on Sunday. Based on ANTARA’s observations at the location, Gibran visited the Asmat Museum and the construction site of the Cathedral of the Diocese of the Holy Cross of Agats. During his series of visits, a child named Herlina approached him to ask for an autograph. “Sign here?” the Vice President said to Herlina, who held out her notebook. After signing the book, the Vice President then said, “Study diligently.” Herlina is a 16-year-old vocational high school student living in Agats District. Not only did he dialogue with children, the Vice President also listened to the aspirations of indigenous women from the Asmat tribe who expressed a desire to obtain capital to empower the mothers. “Alright, I have noted it down,” he said to the women. During the visit to the cathedral construction site, the Vice President toured the location and listened to an explanation regarding the construction process, which began in 2015 but was halted and only resumed in 2025. The church construction is carried out with support from funds collected by the congregation, assistance from the local government, and donors. The entire building construction uses native ironwood from Agats. In addition to these two locations, the Vice President also visited the Sago Field School and the Perpetua J. Safanpo Regional General Hospital, which are still within the Asmat Regency area. Gibran is undertaking a working visit to the provinces of East Nusa Tenggara, Gorontalo, West Papua, and South Papua from 18 to 21 June 2026.