TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy asked all health workers in Papua to continue to serve the community despite the traumatic violent incident in Kiwirok District, Gunung Bintang Regency, last Monday, September 13.

“Those who became victims must be withdrawn and given trauma healing. But if there is a suggestion to withdraw [all health workers], I object to it,” said Muhadjir in a written statement, Monday, September 20.

According to him, people in the province are in need of public services, especially health. “The armed criminal group (KKB) surely targets public services to stop so as to create public dissatisfaction and then carry out rebellion,” he said.

Muhadjir suggested the healthcare workers work in rotating shifts so the health service could continue in the region. “This is not their fault but the KKB. Don’t let the sanction indirectly fall to the community who are clearly in a distress situation,” the minister remarked.

He also asked the security forces to open up guard posts near public service facilities. He deemed the violence experienced by a number of health workers in Papua which even resulted in the death of a health professional named Gabriela Meilani was an alarming situation.

“Whatever the intentions, the steps, this is very disgraceful because those who have been serving the Papuan people became the target,” said Muhadjir Effendy.

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