Steep, Rocky Road in Nduga

Aides and a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI) stood on alert less than 50 meters from us.

Kompas/Totok Wijayanto

Vehicles pass on the Nduga-Mumugu section of the Trans Papua road, Saturday (16/10/2021). The 40-kilometer trans road is mostly paved stone roads and it's still easy to find gaping holes.

About 10 minutes away from Kenyam, the city center of Nduga regency, Papua, our four-wheel-drive pickup truck stopped right behind a black Toyota Fortuner, the official car of the regent of Nduga, Wentius Nimiangge. On the steep, rocky road, Wentius got out of the car.

The road was deserted. On the left and right side was dense forest. Wentius chose that location, on the Trans-Papua Highway that would connect the Kenyam-Wamena route – but had not been connected yet – for the location of the interview. As Wentius got out of the car, his three aides stood around him as if to protect him but were told to stay away by the regent.