Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Calls Formation of 3 new autonomous regions in Papua for the Welfare of Indigenous Papuans

The government continues to strive to accelerate various developments in Papua, including for the welfare of its people. One of them is through the establishment of 3 New Autonomous Regions (DOB). Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) John Wempi Wetipo emphasized that the formation of new autonomous regions in Papua is an effort to improve the welfare of indigenous Papuans and accelerate various developments in Papua.

The formation of the new autonomous regions is also part of the implementation of Law (UU) Number 2 of 2021 concerning Special Autonomy (Otsus) for the Papua Province. It is known, at this time 3 new provinces have been formed in Papua, namely South Papua Province, Central Papua, and Papua Mountains.

Wempi explained that the geographical condition of Papua Province is so wide. This makes the pace of development in coastal areas with mountainous areas relatively different. This creates inequality in welfare and infrastructure development in various sectors. Thus, the 3 new autonomous regions are expected to bring about significant changes in Papua.

"Then why today is the government's policy to expand 3 new autonomous regions, this is actually the point is how to accelerate welfare development for Papuans," said Wempi when he was a resource person on a national television station program, Wednesday (12/10/2022).

He said the President had also issued a policy to build road connectivity in Papua so that no more isolated areas. This road access is important, considering that so far mountainous areas rely a lot on aircraft transportation, including when transporting logistics. This condition also has an impact on the high price of goods in the area.

"So (3 new autonomous regions) will also bring about very significant changes, especially in the mountainous region of Papua, which now has its own province," he said.

The Proposed Expansion Has Been Existing Since 1999

On the other hand, Wempi said that the proposal for the division of Papua had actually been around since 1999. He corrected the notion that the division was the will of the central government.

He claimed to have witnessed firsthand the Association of Central Highlands Regents of Papua in 2019 asking the President to expand Papua. This step is believed to be able to open isolated access in the Central Highlands of Papua.

In addition, continued Wempi, the Ministry of Home Affairs also has a roadmap to accelerate welfare in Papua after the establishment of 3 new autonomous regions. He explained the various efforts made by the Ministry of Home Affairs in supporting the existence of 3 new autonomous regions. One of these is preparing for the inauguration of the 3 new autonomous regions and at the same time inaugurating the acting governor.

Wempi invites the Papuan people and all related parties to be involved in the development process. Thus, the community has a sense of responsibility to realize justice in Papua in accordance with the 5th precepts of Pancasila.

"So if the President gave me the trust to be here today, an opportunity is opened, so let's sit down together to talk about a better Papua development," said Wempi, who is a native Papuan.

SOURCE: https://time.online/2022/10/14/wamendagri-sebut-pemunjukan-3-dob-di-papua-untuk-kesejahteraan- Masyarakat-asli-papua/