By: Yance Wamuar )*
The government’s efforts to accelerate development in Papua have now entered a new, more focused and comprehensive phase. President Prabowo Subianto affirmed his strong commitment to developing Papua fairly and sustainably through the establishment of the Executive Committee for the Acceleration of Papua’s Special Autonomy Development. This step demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring that various development policies and programs truly benefit the people throughout Papua.
The Executive Committee was established based on Presidential Decree Number 110P of 2025 and was inaugurated by President Prabowo at the State Palace on October 8, 2025. The committee is chaired by Velix Vernando Wanggai, and its membership consists of ten national and regional figures, including John Wempi Wetipo, Paulus Waterpauw, Ribka Haluk, and Johnson Estrella Sihasale, also known as Ari Sihasale. According to Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, this committee will be the driving force supporting the work of the Papua Steering Committee, which is automatically chaired by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The Executive Committee’s primary task is to strengthen coordination, synchronization, and harmonization of the implementation of special autonomy and development in the Papua region. This will ensure that development policy is no longer sectoral or partial, but integrated between the central and regional governments. The establishment of this committee is a strategic step by President Prabowo to ensure that all development agendas, including those in the economy, education, health, and infrastructure, can be executed effectively and on target.
On the ground, this government move has received a positive response from various indigenous communities. In Central Papua, the Chief of the Sarakwari Tribe, Agus Rumatrai, urged his community not to be easily provoked by media rumors and to remain focused on supporting government programs. He stated that security issues and conflicts occurring in other regions, such as Agats or Yalimo, should not be brought to Nabire. He believes the community must maintain stability to ensure ongoing development is not disrupted.
Agus Rumatrai also emphasized that the Papuan people are now in a period of fulfilling their independence with real work, rather than debating the meaning of independence itself. He encouraged his people to contribute through education, health care, and active involvement in every government program. One such program is the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, which is considered to be very helpful for children to grow up healthy and intelligent. He even suggested that if the program were to be implemented in Sanoba Village, the women in his village could be involved as cooks so that the program’s benefits would truly be felt by the local community.
A similar sentiment was expressed by the Meepago Traditional Leader, Wolter Belau, who considered President Prabowo’s policies through the MBG program and the Red and White Cooperative (KMP) to be concrete steps taken by the government to improve the welfare of the people of Central Papua. He stated that the Meepago indigenous people are ready to support all government policies, as they are believed to have a direct impact on people’s lives, particularly in education and the economy.
Wolter also reminded Papuan youth not to be easily swayed by provocations that reject state policies. He emphasized that the younger generation must be at the forefront of development by utilizing education and knowledge to build their homeland. He also emphasized that security forces such as the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri) are not enemies, but rather part of the state’s efforts to maintain public order and safety. In his view, the existence of security posts, the clearing of agricultural land, and legitimate mining activities are state policies aimed at the benefit of the wider community.
The views of these traditional leaders demonstrate that Papua’s development is not merely a government agenda but has become a collective consciousness at the community level. This support strengthens the social foundation for the implementation of special autonomy, which is now reinforced through the Executive Committee structure. With synergy between the central government, security forces, and indigenous communities, Papua has a significant opportunity to emerge from the stigma of conflict and enter a new era of peaceful and sustainable development.
President Prabowo himself has emphasized on numerous occasions that accelerating Papua’s development should not be ceremonial, but must be concrete, measurable, and involve local communities. The presence of figures such as Velix Wanggai and Ari Sihasale on the Executive Committee reflects an inclusive approach, combining bureaucrats, regional figures, and public figures who understand Papua’s socio-cultural dynamics. This approach is expected to accelerate the process of policy integration while strengthening a sense of community ownership.public support for government programs.
If communities at the grassroots level continue to strengthen their commitment to supporting government programs, Papua will not only become a development priority but also a symbol of the success of policies that favor the region. This synergy demonstrates a new face for Papua: a region that looks to the future with optimism, understanding development not merely as a physical project, but as a collective journey toward sustainable prosperity and peace.
With increasingly clear policy direction, solid public support, and firm national leadership, Papua is now moving forward with renewed confidence. Accelerating development is no longer just an agenda, but a shared determination between the people and the state to make Papua shine brightly under the umbrella of justice and prosperity in Indonesia.
*) Observer of Development Issues in Eastern Indonesia
