Expansion of Papua Able to Accelerate Development, Maintain Security Situation

The division of the Papua region has been a polemic since several months ago. A number of circles think that the expansion should be rejected because it makes the burden of bureaucracy and corruption even greater. In fact, the division is considered unable to solve human rights problems in Papua. Meanwhile, some parties feel that the division of Papua is capable of accelerating development while maintaining the security situation.

Despite the rejection, a number of parties supported steps to carry out expansion. Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian, for example, assessed that the expansion of a number of regions in Papua was carried out to accelerate development. In addition, the security situation in Papua will also be maintained.

"Well, what is rounded up means that under South Papua itself, they ask," said Tito.

According to Tito, Papua Governor Lukas Enembe agreed to the South Papua talks.

"With the existing budget constraints, there can only be a maximum of two, namely South Papua, the governor is willing, and the regents are also willing, the aspirations are strong there. We will synchronize the central mountains first, ”added Tito.

Similar was expressed by Menkopolhukam Mahfud MD. Reported by VOA, he said the aspirations for the expansion of the Papua region were conveyed by the Papuan people when meeting with President Joko Widodo.

"That there are those who disagree, it's normal. There must be those who disagree, right now it has not been split. But it seems that the expansion effort is right, "explained Mahfud MD.

Mahfud also stated that the government and the DPR have one vote on the division of the province of South Papua. He accused people who did not agree with the expansion plan to be people who wanted Papua to be independent from the Republic of Indonesia.

"The difference is, people who are 'quotes' want Papua to be independent," Mahfud added.

In fact, as reported by JPNN, a researcher from the Papua and Foreign Policy Team at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Adriana Elisabeth, assessed that Papua deserves to be expanded because of its very wide area coverage.

According to him, with a very wide area coverage, it is not enough for Papua to be controlled by only two provinces.

"Papua will sooner or later be divided because it talks about a very wide range of control in Papua, only two provinces, it is not enough," said Adriana.

According to him, in the period of President Joko Widodo's leadership in the next five years, there will definitely be a division of provinces in Papua. However, there are certain concerns that need attention.

“I have been to Papua. I have had discussions with a number of parties there. I noticed that there were none who resisted pemekaran. But that earlier, there are certain concerns that must be considered, "said Adriana.

The first concern that must be paid attention to is whether it should be now, or should it be done in the next few years, considering that there are still many issues that must be prioritized in Papua.

The second emphasis, according to Adriana, is that the government needs to pay attention to national strategic interests, especially those related to national defense. The problem, according to him, is that if you want to expand geographically or according to customary territories, there will be areas of Central Highlands Papua which will be isolated directly bordering the territories of other countries, namely Papua New Guinea.

"Coastal areas and so on are fine, but in the middle there are areas that are very isolated and bordering Papua New Guinea," he said.

Meanwhile, quoted by Metro Merauke, Josafat Fonataba said, expansion needs to be seen from all aspects, so that the results and objectives are truly focused on the mandate of the 1945 law, namely a just and prosperous society.