Jayapura – The Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) is advocating for cooperation with the Netherlands to strengthen education and healthcare for indigenous Papuans. This aspiration was conveyed by the MRP during a visit by a delegation from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jayapura on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The delegation was led by the Deputy Head of Mission (Deputy Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia), Adriaan Palm. He was accompanied by Second Secretary for Political Affairs Zilla Boyer and Senior Political Policy Advisor Edwin Arifin.
MRP Deputy Chairperson II, Robert Horick, stated that the Dutch delegation inquired about the MRP’s mandate and issues concerning the fundamental rights of indigenous Papuans. The MRP then presented the results of public consultations regarding education, healthcare, and the economy.
“They asked the MRP about our duties and the issues we could highlight,” said Robert. “Specifically regarding our mandate and function to protect the fundamental rights of indigenous Papuans.”
Robert noted that the community had raised several issues regarding healthcare. One of the key requests was the reinstatement of the Kartu Papua Sehat (Healthy Papua Card) program.
“In the health sector, there is a public demand for the return of the Healthy Papua Card,” he said. “Many Papuans still lack guaranteed healthcare coverage.”
In addition to healthcare, the MRP conveyed community aspirations regarding improved access to and quality of education. Robert stated that the community also desires a cooperative relationship with the Netherlands that directly addresses the needs of indigenous Papuans.
“In the field of education, there is a hope for cooperation between the Netherlands and indigenous Papuans,” said Robert. “Such cooperation is expected to directly benefit the community in terms of education and healthcare.”
Robert said the Dutch representatives responded positively to these aspirations and expressed support for cooperation in education and empowerment. He noted that the Dutch Embassy has specific divisions dedicated to empowerment and education.
Robert hopes that communication between the MRP and the Dutch government will continue in order to support indigenous Papuans. The MRP also expressed a desire to visit the Netherlands to further discuss this cooperation.
The proposed cooperation is expected to encompass community empowerment and the strengthening of the local economy. The MRP hopes that the established relationship will yield direct benefits for indigenous Papuans.
