Expansion of Papua Community Needs to Improve Welfare

Chairman of the Association of Regents of the Central Highlands of Papua, Befa Yigibalom emphasized that the presence of the formation of a New Autonomous Region (DOB) or the expansion of Papua is the desire and need of the majority of people who crave prosperity, not the struggle of the elite.

The government as the administrator of the state also has the same will to do what is best for its citizens.

"We've all said that the presence of this province is the political will of the state, not the struggle of the elite or anyone else, or the division team, no," said Befa who is also the Regent of Lanny Jaya in a statement, Sunday (15/5/2022) .

According to Befa, the expansion has been regulated by the state, so the people should accept it and use it as well as possible for the benefit of the people in Papua.

"Where else are we going, we live on this earth, we live in this land and we live in this country, and let's not forget that we are still governed by this country, so we accept what he does," he said.

Befa also did not prohibit community groups from rejecting the division of Papua.

However, he also asked to follow the decision in the Plenary Session of the DPR RI.

Furthermore, Befa hopes that all intellectuals in Papua, especially those in the Central Highlands of Papua, will close ranks and welcome the Province of Papua in the Central Mountains. As for the pros and cons, it is okay to do so, but the best study must be done.

"As a good citizen, avoid all negative thoughts and welcome this well," he hoped.

He added that the presence of a new province must be seen from a broader framework. Therefore, you should not think narrowly, suspect each other or make scapegoats and so on.

"However, it must be seen with a good eye that the Central Government provides expansion for the development and welfare of the Papuan people," he said.

It is known, the Government has set a moratorium policy on the expansion of New Autonomous Regions (DOB) since 2014 until now.

However, the issuance of Law (UU) No. 2/2021 on the second amendment to Law No. 21/2001 on Special Autonomy for Papua Province actually mandates the formation of new regions in the Papua region.

Where the plan is that there will be three draft laws (RUU) regulating the expansion of new autonomous regions in Papua, namely the Bill on the Province of Central Papua, the Bill on the Province of Papua in the Central Mountains, and the Bill on the Province of South Papua.

SOURCE: https://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2022/05/15/pemekaran-papua-needs-community-guna-meningkatkan-kesejahteraan