JAYAPURA – The Daily Executive of Papua Governor Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun confirmed that data on students receiving foreign scholarships from Papua had been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Monday (10/7/2023) yesterday.

The data was delivered by the Papua Provincial Government through related agencies, one of the parents of the scholarship recipient and a Member of the Papuan People's Representative Council (DPRP).

"Yesterday, their team left for Jakarta and today it was handed over (to the Ministry of Home Affairs) which was followed by one of the parents, the DPRP and the Papua Provincial Government."

"So the task of the Papua Provincial Government has been completed," explained Acting Governor Ridwan Rumasukun to the press, Tuesday (11/7/2023) in Jayapura.

Furthermore, added Ridwan, the scholarship issue is now taken over by the Central Government through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"The Ministry of Home Affairs (now) immediately took the steps to complete it. The funds to pay for the special autonomy scholarship are taken from districts and cities, it is the policy of the Central Government," he said.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, John Wempi Wetipo stated that the issue of Papuan student scholarships was now officially taken over by the Central Government.

The decision was taken after the Vice Minister of Home Affairs accompanied by the Acting Governor of Papua and representatives of student parents met in Jayapura. The meeting took place at the Hall of the Human Resources Development Agency (BPSDM) Papua, Tuesday (4/7/2023),

"Today's meeting is the final solution to the struggle of parents of students. The result is that the Central Government will take over this problem, the Papua Provincial Government should provide data as requested by the Ministry of Finance," said Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Wetipo, after the meeting.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs also said that the data of 3,171 students must be submitted immediately, so that debt payments or arrears of scholarships (Papuan Superior Students) in 2022, can be immediately carried out by the Ministry of Finance.

"From the Ministry of Finance letter, one alternative to settling scholarship arrears is through intercept cuts to the General Allocation Fund (DAU). But there was a request from the Acting Governor for the settlement of payments through cuts in special autonomy funds. The mechanism will later be submitted again to the Ministry of Finance," he said. ***