Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Archipelago | Mon, November 03 2014, 10:30 PM
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/11/03/new-minister-meet-with-thousands-papuan-women.html
Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Susana Yembise is scheduled to host a dialogue with thousands of Papuan women in Biak Numfor regency, Papua, on Wednesday.
“The minister will visit Biak and host a meeting with around 2,000 women to discuss government programs for women and children,” Biak Numfor administration spokesperson Esti Kawer told The Jakarta Post in Biak on Monday.
Wednesday’s visit will be Yohana’s first official visit after the University of Cendrawasih lecturer was inaugurated as women’s empowerment and child protection minister at the State Palace on Oct. 27.
Esti revealed that a string of traditional ceremonies was being prepared to welcome Yohana to her hometown, Biak.
Speaking to the Post, Yohana expressed her gratitude at being allowed to visit Biak as her first ministerial visit.
“I will fly to Biak on Tuesday evening. The local administration has prepared traditional ceremonies to give thanks to God for my inauguration as minister,” she said over the phone.
Esti said that one of the traditional ceremonies prepared to welcome Yohana was Marangga. “We are preparing a traditional welcoming ceremony called Marangga, in which Minister Yohana must step on a stone plate as she gets off the aeroplane,” she said, adding that a mass prayer event would also be held to give thanks to God for the appointment of Yohana as minister.
From Papua, Yambise is scheduled to visit Nias in North Sumatra to meet with local women leaders. Yohana is the first Papuan woman to be appointed minister. She is also the first Papuan woman to be awarded a professorship.