goodmorningpapua.com – Indonesia officially has 38 provinces, after the presence of four New Autonomous Regions (DOB) in Papua. The four new provinces include Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, South Papua and Southwest Papua.
The policy of dividing the Papua region was carried out by the DPR RI on July 25 2022 by passing three laws related to the formation of a new province in Papua.
The three new provinces in Papua are Law Number 14 of 2022 concerning the Establishment of the Province of South Papua, Law Number 15 of 2022 concerning the Establishment of Central Papua Province, and Law Number 16 of 2022 concerning the Formation of the Provinces of Papua in the Mountains and the Province of Southwest Papua in Sorong.
Therefore, Papua currently consists of six provinces, namely Papua Province with the capital city of Jayapura, West Papua Province with the capital city of Manokwari, South Papua Province with the capital city of Merauke, Central Papua Province with the capital city of Nabire, and Papua Pegunungan Province with the capital city Jayawijaya and Southwest Papua Province with the Capital City of Sorong.
The inauguration of the new province was also accompanied by the inauguration of the acting (Pj) governors for South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan and Southwest Papua. The four Acting Governors include Apolo Safanpo as Acting Governor of South Papua, Rebekah Haluk as Acting Governor of Central Papua, Nikolaus Kondomo as Acting Governor of Papua Mountains and Muhammad Musa’ad as Acting Governor of Southwest Papua.
The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian expressed that the presence of division in the Land of Cendrawasih was to improve the welfare of the Papuan people and cut bureaucracy. Thus presenting a more efficient public service.
“Of course we shouldn’t forget about affirmative action (or) affirmative action for indigenous Papuans,” said Tito at the DPR Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Monday (12/9).
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) John Wempi Wetipo emphasized that the formation of the New Autonomous Region (DOB) in Papua is an important momentum to elevate the dignity of the Papuan people. According to Wempi, this opportunity is a golden opportunity for the Papuan people to be more sovereign over their own land.
“There will be no one else who from afar will help us. There isn’t any. But let’s rise up to build ourselves,” Wempi said at the Socialization of the Preparation for the Inauguration of the South Papua Province which took place at the Merauke Regent’s office, Friday (29/7).
According to Wempi, the formation of a new autonomous region is a golden opportunity given by the state to the people of Papua, this is especially related to development in Papua. Therefore, Wempi invites all elements of society in Papua to unite and work together to build a better country.
The government officially issued Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2022 concerning Amendments to Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning General Elections (Election). The Perppu was signed by President Joko Widodo on December 12, 2022.
“The Perppu is needed for election organizers as a legal basis for holding elections in the national capital (IKN) and in the four new autonomous regions (DOB),” said Director General (Dirjen) Politics and Public Administration (Polpum) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) Bahtiar , Tuesday (13/12).
Article 173 paragraph (2a) of the Perppu provides an exception for the four new autonomous regions in Papua regarding the management requirements and permanent offices of political parties for the 2024 election.
The Acting Governor of West Papua, Paulus Waterpauw, was furious with the actions of the KKB Papua. The former Papua Police Chief criticized the actions of the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) who like to take justice into their own hands and often make residents uneasy.
Paulus was furious after the KKB murders, which have continued to occur to this day. He also promised to eradicate the group that had always hindered the implementation of development throughout the Cendrawasih land.
Specifically in West Papua, Paulus continued, his party was very angry at the KKB’s actions which impeded development in Maybrat Regency and Teluk Bintuni Regency, West Papua.
Therefore, Paulus also asked that each group not interfere with or hinder the implementation of development. No matter how small the development activities are, no one should get in the way. Moreover, trying to thwart just for the sake of the moment.
For all residents in West Papua, nothing should hinder the development of road infrastructure. “If you want to eat, tell us. Don’t use violence especially against our innocent brothers and sisters,” he stressed.
Previously, OPM issued threats to Papuan officials who support the division of the New Autonomous Region (DOB). The threat was spread through a video release sent by TPNPB-OPM spokesperson Sebby Sambom.
The group also issued a wanted list (DPO) for West Papua Acting Governor Paulus Waterpauw.
The leader of TPNPB-OPM Kodap V Sorong Raya Arnoldus Koccu said in his statement that Paulus while still serving as Kapolda Papua had killed people.
Responding to this matter, Paulus asked the OPM group to come directly to him instead of making threats. Paulus claimed to be open to discussing issues well.
“If they want, come. Send representatives, let’s talk carefully. If you want something, let’s talk, instead of making threats behind the tree. What people say is not fair, we are done with threats like that,” said Paulus, who knew of the threat from the video circulating.
He suspected that there were irresponsible persons influencing the group to make threats against him. “I say, that’s their mind. Today, we can see who actually made them like that,” he explained.
However, he did not want to bother with the threat. Paulus claimed to have no problem with anyone.