papuachronicle.co – Papua. Former Acting Governor of Central Papua Province, Dr. Ribka Haluk joined the Red and White Cabinet of President Prabowo Subianto. She was entrusted to hold the position of Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.
The appointment of Ribka Haluk as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs together with Bima Arya, the former Mayor of Bogor, was read out by President Prabowo Subianto on Sunday (20/10/2024) evening. Ribka, who was born on January 10th, 1970, previously served as Acting Governor of Central Papua from November 11th, 2022 to October 18th, 2024.
Ribka completed her undergraduate education at Cenderawasih University and continued her Masters in Administrative Science at Garut University. Her perseverance led Ribka to earn a Doctorate in Management Science at Cenderawasih University.
She once held the position of Expert Staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia in the field of Apparatus and Public Interest. And on November 10th, 2023, she was inaugurated as the definitive Regional Secretary of Central Papua Province.
Ribka also became the first woman to serve as governor in Papua. By the tribal chiefs throughout Central Papua Province, Ribka Haluk was given the name Deerowuni Yum Meumau which means the First Papuan Old Woman/Noken.
A few days before her inauguration as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in the era of President Prabowo, Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian told how Ribka was able to enter the Red and White Cabinet.
“This really happened very quickly. A few days ago, I proposed Mrs. Ribka to Mr. Prabowo, as she (Ribka) was still in Australia,” said Tito at the Ministry of Home Affairs office, Central Jakarta, on Friday (10/18/2024).
In a conversation between the two, Ribka said that she was willing to become Deputy Minister of Home Affairs after being offered by Tito. Ribka was then asked not to fly to Nabire as she would meet Prabowo directly.
Nabire’s selection as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs was inseparable from Prabowo’s desire to have a female leader from Papua. After hearing Prabowo’s request, what immediately crossed Tito’s mind was Ribka.
“Because Mr. Prabowo wanted a ministerial candidate to be a figure from Papua, and he wanted a woman. Ribka Haluk is the one that immediately crossed my mind,” he said.
According to Tito, Ribka Haluk is an experienced figure who knows Papua as a whole. Ribka Haluk is also the first Acting Governor of Central Papua since the province was established as a new autonomous region.
“She has a lot of experience under her belt. She has served as acting regent twice, regional secretary, and the first acting governor for Central Papua. She has left her mark in the history of Central Papua Province,” said Tito.
Tito wished good luck for Ribka in her new position as the Home Affairs Deputy Minister.
Ribka Haluk had previously visited Prabowo’s residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta, a few days ago. Ribka also attended the briefing in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java, along with other deputy ministerial candidates.
Ribka’s position as Acting Governor of Central Papua has now been replaced by Anwar Harun Damanik. Anwar was previously the Acting Regional Secretary of Central Papua.