Jayapura, Jubi – Central Papua Governor Meki NawipaCentral Papua Governor launches Enforcement Drive against Illegal Mining said Papua does not merely need intelligent people to drive development, but rather individuals who are honest, possess integrity, dignity, and strong moral values.

“I believe that if we work together, we do not necessarily need highly intelligent people, but honest people with integrity, self-respect, and morality. That is enough to build this land. We do not need too many smart people to build this region,” Nawipa said.

The statement was delivered during his closing remarks at the Strategic Coordination Forum for the Acceleration of Papua’s Development in Timika, Mimika, on Tuesday (May 12, 2026).

The forum, themed “Strengthening the Implementation of Papua’s Special Autonomy Policy to Achieve a More Prosperous Papua,” was held from May 11–12, 2026.

According to Nawipa, discussions about security issues in Papua are often used as reasons for hampering development as well as education and healthcare services.

However, he argued that not all regions in Papua are unsafe, and that some individuals use security concerns as an excuse to avoid carrying out their duties and responsibilities.

“We need to look at this from all sides. Not every area is unsafe. Sometimes teachers use security as an excuse because they want to stay in Timika or Nabire if they are assigned in Central Papua. Some teachers are lazy, healthcare workers are lazy, doctors are lazy — they only want to receive their salaries,” he said.

Governor Nawipa emphasized that innovation and collaboration are essential for developing the Land of Papua, in line with the regional development vision of Healthy Papua, Smart Papua, and Productive Papua.

“So in my opinion, Papua does not need merely smart people. Papua needs honest people — people with integrity, dignity, morality, and responsibility,” he concluded. (*)