It need not be luxurious."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A guest house will be built for Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in Papua to enable him to closely interact with the people in the countrys easternmost province, a minister stated.
"A special team is in the process of deciding the exact location for the guest house," Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno stated here on Wednesday.
Speaking at a seminar themed, "the Voice of Papua" here, he remarked that the guest house will be used by the head of state for work and also as a place that will make him feel closer to the people of Papua.
The request for the presidential guest house in Papua was originally put forth by the officials of the State Palace, taking into consideration that he could visit the province thrice or even four times a year, Tedjo affirmed.
"The guest house will not be like the Bogor Palace. It need not be luxurious. The most important aspect to build the guest house is that the president can get closer to the people, and they can easily meet him there," he affirmed.
When questioned about the presidents security, Tedjo explained that it will not be a problem as the Papuans love the head of state, and this was reflected by the high number of votes that he had received during the 2014 presidential election.
"Mr. President has frequently visited Papua and has got closer to the local people. He has never felt threatened during his visit in the province," he remarked.
The seminar on the Papuan issue was attended by former transportation minister Freddy Numberi and former Indonesian ambassador to the Philippines Johny Lumintang, among others.
(Reported by Michael Siahaan/Uu.R013/INE/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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