Appreciating The Declaration of Papuan Students in the US for the Unity of Indonesia
By: Sabby Kosay) *
Concern for the Indonesian people was also directed by the Diaspora from Bumi Cenderawasih. Not long ago a group of Papuan students studying in the United States held their first conference in the land of Uncle Sam. The declaration was made in order to create a better Indonesia.
Papuan students studying in the United States held an international conference on December 20, 2019, in Los Angeles. The event was titled “Golden Generation of Papua: Shine On”. The conference was initiated by the Forum of Papuan Youth and Scholar and the Papuan Student Association in the United States (IMAPA), and fully supported by the consulate general of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Los Angeles, the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC, all the Consulate General in the United States and The Government of Papua Province and West Papua Province.
This activity was attended by around 200 Indonesian students from the provinces of Papua and West Papua who were studying in America and Outside America such as the Philippines, Britain and Canada.
The event was officially opened with the harboring of Tifa (traditional Papuan musical instrument) by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mahendra Siregar, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Public Housing RIM John Wempi Wetipo; who is a special staff member of the Republic of Indonesia’s President Billy Mambrasar, representatives of the provincial governments of Papua and West Papua, all heads of Indonesian Representatives in the US, Chair of IMAPA 2017-2019 Michael Anies Labene and the initiator of the International Conference of Papuan Youth and Scholar Rini S. Mondouw.
Currently there are around 300 of Indonesia’s best students from Papua and West Papua who are currently studying at various universities in a number of US states. The majority of students are scholarship recipients sourced from special autonomy funds managed by the Papua and West Papua provincial governments.
The conference aims to discuss ideas and ideas and the role of young Papuans in the fields of education, health and economy for accelerating the development of the Eastern Indonesia region as a priority for the Government of Indonesia under the leadership of Indonesian President Ir Joko Widodo.
At the end of the event, young people from the earth of paradise gave jointly sparked the “Los Angeles Golden Generation Declaration of Papua” or the Los Angeles Declaration which emphasized.
Committed to unity and synergy in realizing an international forum of youth, students and scholars of the Land of Papua to advance Papua Human Resources who are reliable in facing global challenges and to develop the Land of Papua in all fields towards Indonesia as the 4th world economic power in 2045.
Encourage the movement of innovation and creativity, encourage active participation of the government and the private sector in supporting the young people of Tanah Papua so that they can make a real contribution to the sustainable development of Tanah Papua, Indonesia and the world.
Committed to encouraging the entrepreneurial interest and entrepreneurial skills of Papuan youth, to be a solution for improving economic prosperity and soft skills and hard skills in order to compete and be effective in the Industrial Revolution 4.0 era.
Calling on all young Papuan young women not to be afraid of dreaming big and conveying ideas, ideas openly and working hard to realize them for the benefit of the nation and state.
In addition, the conference also held a link and match program in the form of an internship and recruitment program in several US and Indonesian companies.
The Indonesian Consul General in LA Saud P. Krisnawan stated, the provision of employment opportunities was the idea of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Los Angeles and became one of the important objectives of the Conference to open opportunities for Papuan students after successfully graduating from their studies.
He also said that the link and match program is part of efforts to develop Papuan human resources, which in turn will play a role in contributing to development in the Land of Papua.
The conference also continued with the IMAPA Student Organization Conference (MUSORMA). IMAPA MUSORMA’s agenda is to formally form Papuan student organizations and elect a new management in 2019-2021.
The IMAPA organization will be part of the Indonesian Student Association in the United States (PERMIAS). The series of events was concluded with a celebration of Christmas Together on December 22, 2019.
The conference is expected to be a turning point for Indonesia’s development especially in the Eastern region. Increased reliable human resources are expected to further advance Indonesia in various fields.) * The writer is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta
