Jokowi Celebrates New Year's Eve in Papua Despite Shooting  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung said that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to spend New Year's eve together with Papua residents. According to Pramono, the President will celebrate New Year’s eve in three places in Papua, starting from December 29, 2015.

"The President will celebrate New Year’s eve in […] Merauke, Wamena, and Raja Ampat," Pramono said at his office on Monday, December 28, 2015.

Pramono explained that President Jokowi had chosen to celebrate New Year's Eve in Papua because the President wishes to celebrate the festivities together with all Indonesians. "The approach is intended to create a new atmosphere and [to show] that developments not only take place in Jakarta," Pramono said.

Jokowi, as Pramono said, was not concerned about security issues in Papua during New Year's eve because he had ordered the Indonesian Natinonal Army and the National Police to conduct a thorough search prior to his arrival, especially after the recent shooting incident in Sinak, Puncak Papua Regency.

"The recent shooting that killed three Police officers does not discourage the President from celebrating New Year’s eve in Papua," Pramono said.

Chief of the National Police Gen. Badrodin Haiti said that the incident that occurred on Sunday night, December 27, 2015, was committed by the Lekagak Tenggamati group.

REZA ADITYA