5 May 2015

Jokowi to visit Papua this weekend

9:12 pm on 5 May 2015

The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, is set to make his second official trip to the restive provinces of Papua and West Papua, this coming weekend.

Indonesian presidential candidate Joko Widodo campaigning in Jayapura.

Indonesian presidential candidate Joko Widodo campaigning in Jayapura. Photo: AFP

The four-day trip, starting on Saturday, will take him to traditional markets in Jayapura, which are currently being re-developed after the President vowed to help them in his Christmas 2014 visit.

The Jakarta Globe reports Mr Widodo will also launch the construction of a bridge and facilities for the 2020 National Games, which will be held in Papua, and will attend the opening of a new public administration school.

He will also visit Manokwari and Sorong to launch new power and telecommunication projects.

The President has been under pressure from some foreign politicians to open up the provinces to the media and to address the ongoing human rights abuses there.