Rp 2.5b sports event criticized

JAYAPURA, Papua: The Papua branch of Indonesian National Youth Committee (KNPI) has drawn fire for organizing an event that cost the administration about Rp 2.5 billion (more than US$2 million).

The Millennium II Youth Sports and Arts Week (Porseni) was opened on July 8 by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and closed on July 14 by Papua Governor Jaap Salossa.

Local activists said the costly event was insensitive in light of the suffering of the Papuan people.

Institute for Civil Empowerment (ICS) director Budi Setyanto told The Jakarta Post in Jayapura that Porseni was a waste of state money.

The money from the provincial budget should have been used to improve health and education, he said.

Budi questioned the local politicians' commitment to public welfare.

Papua's KNPI chairman Gerson Jitmau said Porseni was not merely a sports and arts week, but also aimed to foster unity and integrity among youths, who were expected to maintain the unitary state. --JP