New Papuan governor Lukas Enembe will approach separatist groups and offer to empower them. The administration will bring three issues - education, welfare and development - to the table.
“The problems are always injustice and lack of prosperity. We will try to offer solutions,” he said on Tuesday.
He acknowledged that the government needed to listen to the separatists and expected better communication through the new approach.
“We will send them to school. We can lend them money to build businesses and provide training to improve their welfare,” he said.
Lukas has already spoken to Goliat Tabuni, a separatist leader, who called him after his inauguration.
Lukas expected all regents facing problems with separatists to follow his lead, but he needs support from the central government.
“I will probably use special autonomy funds to finance the programs,” he said.
Papua has received Rp 28.4 trillion of special autonomy funds in the last decade. The funds are often criticized for not solving the basic problems of welfare and access to health services.