By : Rebecca Marian )*
Papuans are also Indonesian citizens. The government appreciates and provides opportunities for indigenous Papuans (OAP) who have competence to become state officials. The criterion for an official is based on his ability and intelligence, not from his region or tribe.
President Jokowi has a special staff called the Millennial Special Staff, whose members are young people who have great potential and work professionally. Among them are Angkie Yudistia (a businesswoman with disabilities), Putri Tanjung (a young entrepreneur), and the most striking is Gracia Billy Mambrasar. Billy, his nickname, is a Millennial Special staff who is the only native son of Papua.
The election of Billy Mambrasar as an official at a young age is a sign that the government is giving native Papuans a chance. Indigenous Papuans also have the ability, therefore the government is giving them a chance. The government is aware that Papuans are Indonesian citizens and have the right to be elected as officials, because they are capable of carrying out the mandate.
The government also does not select officials and staff based on ethnicity or regional origin. There is no difference between Javanese, Sundanese or Papuans, because both are Indonesian citizens. If he has the skills and intelligence, then he can be chosen and trusted to be staff at the Presidential Palace. The government applies the Precepts of social justice for all Indonesian people.
Billy Mambrasar was chosen as the Millennial Special Staff because he proved to be smart (graduated from a prestigious university abroad) and capable of managing social foundations. He proved that Papuans can also have successful careers in Jakarta and can become state officials, even though they are not yet 40 years old. With his experience abroad, he is proficient in getting along with international guests.
President Jokowi’s administration has also proven that it is permissible to become officials at a young age, as long as they are intelligent. President Jokowi likes the fast and agile work style, which is generally owned by young people. That’s why he chose smart people to be the Millennial Special Staff, and Billy Mambrasar was proud because he represented Papuans at the Presidential Palace.
Although some people know Billy as a singer (because he has participated in a talent show), more people know him as an official from Papua. Understandably, in the past it was still quite rare for officials in the central government to come from the Cendrawasih Land. But now there are Papuans who are trusted by the government to hold the mandate as officials.
One of the first well-known native Papuan officials was Freddy Numberi. He was the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries during the reign of (former) President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Freddy is known as the initiator of the fishing boat sinking program. The aim is of course to have a deterrent effect, because fish thieves from other countries will be very tired of entering Indonesian waters.
Besides that, there is Yohana Yembise, a Papuan figure who has served as Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (2014-2019). This Manokwari-born woman broke the record as the first Papuan woman to become a minister. He campaigned for gender equality and the protection of women from domestic violence (domestic violence).
The Papuan people are very proud of Yohana’s figure because she proves that native Papuan women are also intelligent and have the ability to carry out their duties as officials. Papuans can also be trusted to be ministers in the reform era. Especially if she is a woman, which proves that her abilities are no less than a man’s.
When President Jokowi appointed Yohana Yembise as minister, it proved that he chose officials based on his intelligence, not on his gender. Women can also become high-ranking officials, and have high skills as well.
The government provides opportunities for many Papuans to become officials and have strategic positions. This proves that President Jokowi’s administration really loves Papua and believes that Papuans are also capable. There is no longer a negative stigma that Papuans are backward or only wear koteka everywhere, because their life is modern and they can go to university and have careers as officials.
President Jokowi is the president who is most concerned about Papua. He set a record as the head of state who visited the Cendrawasih Land the most times. His visits were to hold audiences with the Papuan people, inaugurate the XX National Sports Week in Papua, inaugurate the Trans Papua Road, etc. This love is also proven by giving trust to Papuans to become officials.
The government trusts many native Papuans to become officials because they have the proper skills and abilities. There is no difference between Papuans and people from other regions, because what is seen is their intelligence and professionalism. The trust of President Jokowi has made the Papuan people love him even more as the nation’s most brilliant leader.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Jakarta
