Yahukimo Regent: Expansion for Papuans to Take Strategic Positions

Yahukimo Regent Didimus Yahuli emphasized that the plan to expand or form a New Autonomous Region (DOB) in Papua Province would have a positive impact on accelerating development and prosperity in Papua.

This was conveyed by Didimus during the Special Meeting for the Acceleration of Welfare Development in accordance with the customary territory of Papua which took place at the Suni Garden Lake Hotel and Resort Sentani, Jayapura Regency, Papua, Friday (10/6/2022).

There are fears that the expansion will make indigenous Papuans extinct, he emphasized, currently the death of Papuans is not due to division, but other factors such as HIV and AIDS, traffic accidents, drunkenness, tribal wars, and so on.

"So Papuans died not because of division, we must completely eliminate this paradigm of thinking," said Didimus.

1. The division made indigenous Papuans occupy strategic positions
 
Another mistake is that the expansion will result in the mobilization of many people from outside Papua so that the indigenous Papuans will be excluded. According to Didimus, the expansion carried out by Papua previously has made the indigenous Papuans occupy strategic positions in government organizations, including the legislature.

"Today the members of the Yahukimo DPRD are 100 percent native Yahukimo, all members of the council in the Central Mountains are native Papuans," explained Didimus.

"In fact, the expansion is an opportunity for the Papuan people to contribute more in various fields," he added.

2. The expansion must be accompanied by adequate financial support
 
Didimus assessed that this expansion was needed because of the vast area in Papua. So the span of government control is too far.

Then, he also emphasized, expansion efforts must be accompanied by adequate financial support.

"The finances are nutrition for a region, including those that will be expanded. Thus, the expansion step can support the expansion and acceleration of development in an area," he said.

3. Keep in touch so that the expansion can be understood
 
Against different views regarding the expansion, Didimus invites all parties to respond proportionally.

"This step can be taken by continuing to build good communication, so that the purpose of the expansion can be understood by all parties," he said.

Previously, the DPR RI had received a Presidential Letter (Surpres) regarding the Draft Law (RUU) regarding the formation of new autonomous regions in Papua. The Surpres was received by the DPR on Sunday, May 15, 2022, and will be brought to the DPR Plenary Session for follow-up.

SOURCE : https://www.msn.com/id-id/berita/nasional/bupati-yahukimo-pemekaran-buat-warga-papua-situation-position-strategis/ar-AAYlAL4?li=AAuZNMP