Held Action at Horse Statue, Papuan Student Forum Urges Government to Validate New Papua New Guinea

The Papuan Indigenous Student Forum for the New Autonomous Region (DOB) of Jabodetabek held a demonstration in the Horse Statue area, Central Jakarta, Tuesday (7/6/2022). They urged the government to immediately ratify and sign the New Autonomous Region Law (DOB) in the three Papua Provinces. Action Coordinator Charles Kosay said this time his party asked the central government of President Joko Widodo and the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately ratify and sign the new autonomous region law in three Papua Provinces, namely: South Papua, Central Papua and Central Highlands Papua.

"We see this new autonomous region as a solution and strategy for development in Papua. So with that we come down today to press for the law to be passed this month," said Charles Kosay. He said, there are areas in Papua Province that cannot manage problems and provide community services properly. This is because some of these districts are still in isolated areas. He continued, the problem of health and education factors is also not yet reached, the teachers or teaching staff as well as the medical team or medical personnel have not been able to go to certain areas because there is no road construction.

Then, the building has not been renovated properly, the school is not so good. This is because of the weakness of the provincial government. "With this expansion, it will help to open up these isolated areas," he said.

According to him, the existence of this division will have a positive impact on indigenous Papuans. From a political point of view, the Special Autonomy Law yesterday stated in Article 76 that there is an obligation to improve public services and promote the rights and dignity of indigenous Papuans from an economic and political perspective.

"So from two provinces to five out of these five, the political rights of Papuans will go there without the party line, because it is binding on the Special Autonomy Law. That is where the welfare of Papuans will be seen," he said.

Charles expressed his highest appreciation for the initiative of the government and the DPR to establish a new autonomous region in Papua, our common home within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.