July 10, 2025
JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto is preparing to assign Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka a special mandate to oversee matters related to Papua, including accelerating development and addressing ongoing human rights issues in Indonesia’s easternmost region, according to a senior government official.
Coordinating Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Correctional Services Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra revealed the plan last week during the launch of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)’s annual report. He said the President is in the process of finalizing the assignment for Gibran.
“There will be an office in Papua for the Vice President to work on these issues,” Yusril said, prompting speculation that Gibran could be relocated to the region.
However, in a follow-up statement on Wednesday, Yusril clarified that it is not the Vice President himself who will be based in Papua, but rather the secretariat and operational personnel of the Special Autonomy Acceleration Board for Papua, which Gibran is set to lead.
The Vice President’s official office will remain in the capital Jakarta, as stipulated by the 1945 Constitution.
“It is [constitutionally] impossible for the Vice President to move his office to Papua, as has been widely reported,” Yusril said, further explaining that the appointment aligns with the mandate set forth in the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law.
Read also: Gibran’s impeachment: Between constitutional instrument and political pressure tool
Article 68A of the law assigns the Vice President to head a special body responsible for synchronizing, harmonizing, evaluating and coordinating the implementation of special autonomy and development programs in Papua.
This agency will include several key ministers, those responsible for domestic affairs, national development planning and finance, as well as one representative from each Papuan province.
“Further provisions regarding this body will be regulated through a government regulation. The existing structure and personnel may be reorganized to meet current needs,” Yusril added.
Gibran’s upcoming role follows a precedent set by his predecessor, Ma’ruf Amin, who was appointed in 2022 by then-president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, Gibran’s father, to lead the same institution.
While the assignment signifies high-level attention to the region, human rights advocates argue that real progress in Papua depends more on political will than personnel.
“The solution to the problems in Papua doesn’t depend on who is assigned, but on the state’s political decisions rooted in human rights values,” said Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid.
Usman stressed that as long as the government maintains a militaristic security approach and fails to uphold human rights, the conflict will persist. He subsequently urged the government to prioritize peaceful dialogue and ensure Papuan voices are central in developing solutions.
“Dialogue is the most rational and humane path forward. Papuans must be treated as subjects, not objects, in any dialogue to seek solutions to the problems they face,” he added.
Read also: Gibran’s complaint desk returns to spotlight amid tensions
Resource-rich Papua has seen conflict between separatists and security forces since the 1970s, but tensions have escalated considerably since 2018, with pro-independence armed groups mounting more frequent attacks. Many believe the Indonesian Military (TNI)’s presence in the region has only exacerbated problems.
The West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organization (TPNPB-OPM) has rejected Gibran’s appointment, questioning his qualifications and dismissing him as inexperienced.
“He is incapable. How can a snotty kid like that solve the Papuan problem,” said group spokesperson Sebby Sambom, referring to the 37-year-old Vice President, whose rise to office was facilitated by a controversial Constitutional Court ruling lowering the minimum age for candidates.
He emphasized that a peace process is what Papua needs. “President Prabowo should form a negotiation team to sit at the table with us. If not, the conflict in Papua will only escalate,” Sebby warned.
When asked about his new assignment during a working visit to Central Java on Wednesday, Gibran responded, “As the President’s assistant, I must frequently travel across the regions. I can work from anywhere.”