TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) rejected Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka's assignment to handle development and human rights issues in Papua.
Warpo Sampari Wetipo, Chairperson of KNPB Central, called President Prabowo Subianto's mandate to Gibran "mere publicity." He considered the assignment to resolve issues in Papua as an old song being played repeatedly by the Indonesian government.
"This kind of mandate makes the people and fighters of Papua very fed up and is considered an old song that's continuously replayed, as if the government is serious, when in fact it's all nonsense," Warpo told Tempo on July 11, 2025.
In addition to rejecting Gibran's assignment, KNPB also condemned several Prabowo cabinet ministers for running programs that do not directly benefit the people of Papua.
"We assess that a number of development projects and programs in health, education, and the recruitment of executives from six provinces in Papua are unproductive," Warpo said. "The government intentionally recruits them to be puppets so that the people of Papua live and die in the hands of Jakarta's game."
Rather than sending Gibran to Papua, Warpo said that KNPB urged the Indonesian government to initiate a dialogue involving the United Nations or other international parties considered neutral and acceptable to both sides.
TPNPB-OPM Also Rejects Gibran's Appointment
The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) also expressed rejection of Gibran's assignment. Sebby Sambom, spokesperson for TPNPB-OPM, questioned Gibran's qualifications to handle Papua's issues.
According to Sebby, instead of assigning Gibran, he asked Prabowo to form a team under his cabinet to negotiate with groups in Papua. He stated that appointing Gibran to address development and human rights issues in Papua is merely a stunt by the Indonesian government for the international community.
"We view Gibran's appointment to Papua as a mistake by the Indonesian government in resolving the conflict in Papua," he said yesterday.
Gibran Ready for Assignment
In response, Gibran Rakabuming stated his readiness to carry out the specific assignment from Prabowo to handle Papua. He did not even rule out the possibility of working directly in Papua, noting that such an assignment has existed since Vice President Ma'ruf Amin's term.
"As an assistant to the president, I am ready to be assigned anywhere, anytime, and at the moment we are waiting for the next order," Gibran said when met during a working visit to Klaten Regency, Central Java, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The VP stopped short of providing a clear answer regarding his departure schedule or when he would start his duty in Papua. However, he affirmed his readiness to be assigned anytime, even if the president's formal decision has not been announced yet.
Septia Ryanthie, Hendrik Yaputra, and Dani Aswara contributed to this report
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