Robert Blake, met with Papua Governor Lukas Enembe (Jubi)
Jayapura, 10/6 (Jubi) – The United States ambassador to Indonesia, Robert Blake, met with Papua Governor Lukas Enembe on Tuesday (10/6) to discuss poverty, education, health and the Special Autonomy Law.
After the closed-door meeting, the ambassador told reporters in Jayapura that the two talked about the presidential election, the government programs during one-year governor’s administration in education and poverty elimination and community development in Papua.
“I told the governor about our support for Papua including in health, education, forest management and marine resource protection programs. We also discuss Papua’s Special Autonomy Law and some issues related to the law,” he said.
Enembe said, “In the meeting I told him about the facts that are happening in Papua.”
He further said the provincial government has been struggling to have the Otsus (Special Autonomy) Plus bill passed due the limitation of Otsus Law.
“It’s expected that the President Mandate (Ampres) on the Otsus Plus Law will be issued on 25 June; therefore the provincial government could have the authority to develop Papua and to eliminate the poverty because 95 percent of Papuans are still living in poverty,” Enembe said.
“To reduce poverty in Papua, Papuans should be empowered to get good economic capabilities and education. I explained it all to the US ambassador,” he said.
He added the provincial government asked the United States for support. On the other hand, the provincial government has also renegotiated with PT. Freeport and proposed 17 items to be put in the contract.
“It’s including the smelter that should be constructed in Papua instead of in East Java. It should be built in Papua because the materials are from Papua” he said. (Jubi/Alex/rom)
