Elisa Sekenyap, Jayapura – The Papua People's Council (MRP) says that the people of Central Papua have openly complained about and reject the free nutritious meals (MBG) program launched by the central government.
This was conveyed by the Central Papua province MRP based on complaints and the direct opposition by the community.
Speaking from Nabire on Tuesday February 4, Central Papua MRP Religious Working Group Chairperson Wenior Pakage told Suara Papua that the complaints and rejection of the program conveyed by the people of Central Papua were due to trauma and fear because the food will be provided by the TNI (Indonesian Military) and Polri (Indonesian Police) and because Papua is in a state of conflict.
"The people of Central Papua are complaining and rejecting the free nutritious food for school children, because the food is provided by the TNI and Polri", he said.
"They're afraid of the food for their children that they'll be murdered with poison, resulting in an extermination. Therefore the community is asking that the program be scrapped. This has all happened because of doubts", he explained.
He also stated that there are concerns over the responsibilities of the free lunch providers if things occur unexpectedly. "Then there are some who said that if anything happens to their children because of the lunches, who will provide guarantees and who is responsible? These are the complaints made by the public to us", he said.
Therefore, he said, he and his colleagues from the Central Papua MRP Religious Working Group are proposing that the House of Representatives (DPR), the MRP, the governor and the parties responsible for the free lunch program sit down together to find a solution to the issue.
"[We] must find a solution together, so that the program can be viewed well. Whether it will be done or not. If it is carried out, what is the solution and if it's not what the solution is", said Pakage.
Another issue, he said, is based on the complaints by the majority of the community who reject the free nutritious lunch program. "So the funds for the program are transferred to free schooling. To pay school fees for students in each school, so that they obtain knowledge for free", he concluded.
Earlier on Monday February 3, hundreds of school children from Yahukimo regency in the Papua Highlands took to the streets in Dekai to reject the free nutritional lunch program launched by President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka.
The program was rejected by the school children on the grounds that it was not an urgent need for the younger generation in Yahukimo regency. The students demand free education instead.
During the peaceful demonstration, which was centred in front of the Yahukimo district Education Office, students wearing school uniforms delivered a number of statements explaining their position. In essence they stated that they do not accept the MBG program which began to be implemented not long ago.
In addition to senior high school students (SMA), the action by the Yahukimo Regency Student Alliance was joined by hundreds of elementary (SD) and junior high school (SMP) students in Yahukimo regency. They displayed banners and pamphlets containing a number of demands, including rejecting the MBG program and demanding the enactment of free education.
"We urge the government to pay attention to education with policies that are without costs. Yes, free education. We refuse the free lunch program", said one of the students in a speech.
[Translated by James Balowski. Abridged slightly due to repetition. The original title of the article was "MRP Papua Tengah Mengakui Masyarakat Menolak Program Makan Siang Gratis".]
