Jayapura – The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) expects the management of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) to be in accordance with the cultural values of Mountainous Papua (Papeg).
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk, in a written statement in Wamena on Saturday, stated that the management system of the Red and White Village Cooperatives must be adapted to the values of local wisdom in Mountainous Papua.
“We want regional governments, both provincial and district, to continue to promote the Red and White Village Cooperatives as a means to improve the welfare of the people of Mountainous Papua, aligned with the values of local wisdom,” she said.
According to her, the existence of the Red and White Village Cooperatives is believed to encourage the circulation of money in the regions, thereby reducing poverty.
“So, the President wants regional governments to be required to establish Red and White Village Cooperatives in every village in Mountainous Papua and to be able to manage them properly to improve the welfare of the local community,” she said.
She explained that the regional government continues to encourage the development of Red and White Village Cooperatives, as regulated by law.
“The Governor, Deputy Governor, Regent, and Deputy Regent must continue to advance the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih) as a means of supporting economic growth in this region and simultaneously exploring the region’s potential,” he said.
He added that through the Red and White Village Cooperative, the natural resources (SDA) and potential in every village in the Papua Highlands can be properly managed by the community, following established procedures.
“The funding sources for the Red and White Village Cooperative are very clear, including village funds, the State Budget (Himbara), and other financial sources that the Red and White Village Cooperative management can obtain to run the business, so as not to burden the local community,” he said.
