Jayapura — One year under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has brought real and visible change for the people of Papua. Various government programs — ranging from food security and infrastructure improvement to housing development — have begun to deliver concrete benefits reaching even the most remote villages.
Papuan community leader Martinus Demetouw expressed his appreciation and pride toward the performance of the Prabowo–Gibran administration, which he said has truly addressed the basic needs of the Papuan people.
“We are proud, because here in Papua we can truly feel the food assistance distributed by the government — from the provincial level down to the regency and district levels. This is the first time we have felt such direct results under President Prabowo’s administration,” said Martinus on Sunday (October 19, 2025).
He further explained that, in addition to food distribution, the government has also provided crop seedlings to support local food security initiatives. These seedlings have been planted by residents on their own land and have begun to bring positive economic impacts to local communities.
“We have received various forms of food aid from the government. This is truly remarkable for us, the people of Papua,” he added.
Beyond the agricultural sector, Martinus highlighted the rapid infrastructure development that has taken place across Papua over the past year. Roads that were once damaged and nearly impassable have now been repaired and paved, significantly improving access between cities and remote villages.
“In the past, it was very difficult to travel from town to our villages, but now the roads are smooth and well-paved. We can really feel the progress of this development,” he remarked.
He also acknowledged the housing improvement programs implemented by the government, noting that many homes in rural areas have been renovated or newly built with construction materials provided by the government.
“We can clearly feel the benefits of the housing program. Many residents’ homes have been repaired, and some even rebuilt. The building materials provided by the government have been a great help for us,” Martinus explained.
Martinus expressed hope that development in Papua will continue and become more evenly distributed in the coming years. He believes that with President Prabowo and Vice President Gibran’s strong commitment to improving the welfare of people in eastern Indonesia, Papua will continue to advance and prosper.
“We hope programs like these will continue so that Papuans can progress and no longer be left behind. We thank the President and Vice President for their great attention and dedication to the Land of Papua,” he concluded.
