Jokowi to Stay Overnight in Kaimana, West Papua

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and First Lady Iriana are expected to stay overnight in Kaimana District, West Papua, on Sunday evening, and reap the rewards of a scenic sunset in the afternoon during his working visit in the province.

"The President will enjoy sunset in Kaimana and later stay overnight, prior to proceeding to Jayapura, Papua Province on Monday (Oct 28)," West Papua Governor Dominggus Mandacan said here on Sunday.

Kaimana's scenic sunset has been famous thanks to a song entitled "Senja di Kaimana" (Sunset in Kaimana) popularized by Indonesian pop singer Alfian in 1960s.

The agenda of Jokowi on Sunday included a visit to Pegunungan Arfak District to check several infrastructure development projects, tourism sites and farms. From Arfak, the President and his entourage would proceed to Kaimana.

Jokowi would see the infrastructure development projects including an airport renovation in Kaimana which is being designated as a halal tourism destination.

The President and his entourage departed aboard the presidential aircraft from Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in East Jakarta on Saturday for the Dominie Edward Osok Airport in Sorong, West Papua, for working visits to West Papua and Papua Provinces.

Members of the Presidential entourage include Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Chief of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono.

In the meantime, speaking in connection with President Jokowi's work visit to Indonesia's eastern most provinces of West Papua and Papua, Papua Police Chief Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw made assurance on Friday that the community order and security situation throughout Papua remained under control.

Waterpauw arrived in Timika, the capital city of Mimika District, Papua Province, along with Commander of the XVII Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Major General Herman Asaribab to welcome Home Minister Tito Karnavian and his entourage that arrived on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday morning, Karnavian and his entourage departed for Wamena, the capital city of Jayawijaya District, before joining President Jokowi's entourage in Jayapura, the capital city of Papua Province.

Jokowi's visit to Papua and West Papua reflected the importance he showed to the two provinces, Minister Tito Karnavian stated.

President Jokowi was looking forward to visiting Papua and West Papua soon after a spate of riots engulfed Jayapura and Wamena, said Tito on Friday. He was inducted as home affairs minister only on Wednesday.

Papua and West Papua have come under the radar of both the Indonesian and foreign media after a spate of violence broke out in several parts of these two Indonesian provinces in August and September 2019.

ANTARA