Jayapura, Papua Capital

I just went back from Jayapura, Papua, last week for a business trip. It was my first-time. The city (if you can call one!) is located in the eastern part of Papua (Indonesia), just 60 minutes to the New Guinea borderline.

I stayed there for about 24 hours. I stayed in the best hotel in town, The Swiss Bel...(something) Hotel, which located in the business district on the bay. Nice view, my window is facing to the bay, with hill view on the right side. There was a big sign called "Jayapura City" on the hill, just like what they did on "Hollywood" sign in California.

Pak Alex Siahaininea, Head of RRI station in Jayapura, told me lots of things about Jayapura. For instance, the native papuans are considered "orang2 maless". They tend to live easy, not willing to work to get a better life. Many of Papuan men goes drunk every payday. In the morning, when you see guys laying on the street unconcsious, then you know that he just got some money yesterday...

I was told also that in the last few years, Jayapura becomes politically "tidak kondusif" - as what a state officer (pejabat) will say. According to Pak Alex, it's all started when Gus Dur (as the President) commented to an issue when some papuans planned to erect Papua Merdeka's flag (Papua Freedom Movement) - the 'Bintang Kejora' - on the national day. There are huge controvercies went around at that time, but when being asked on the issue, the President said, "Ya naikin aja. Itu (the movement's flag) kan sama aja kayak bendera KONI." KONI is a sporting entity in Indonesia. Ouch.

Jayapura is facing an environmental problem these days. Lands and hills erodes all the time, due to illegal forestry and mining activities. Floods happens, lands & roads crack, bridges fall. On the day I came, I have to detour for more than half hour to travel to downtown from the airport.

On the way back to Jakarta, I came to stop by at Timika, the Freeport's (US mining company) main 'village'. Despite the fact that it is only a tiny place in the heart of Papua, Timika has a great signature golf-course in the jungle, decorated with hundreds-year-old big trees... And I once read a t-shirt print goes "Hard Rock Cafe TIMIKA", with the usual, worldwide logo of the franchise. I bet that anybody can purchase such t-shirt at the local pasar... :-)