The Government Immediately Forms a New Province in Papua

A number of indigenous Papuan tribal leaders along with residents have held peaceful demonstrations at the grounds of the Office of the Mayor of Sorong, West Papua on 23 October 2020.

The demonstration was carried out as a form of the Papuan community towards the central government to immediately realize the expansion of the Province of Southwest Papua.

Even the Governor of West Papua Province, Dominggus Mandacan has also encouraged the expansion of the new autonomous region (DOB) of the province of Southwest Papua. The struggle process carried out by the people in the Sorong Raya area has been going on for about 12 years.

It seems that the struggle that has been carried out by the community is starting to show results. The government is optimistic that in the near future it can realize the formation of 3 new provinces in Papua. The establishment of the new province is expected to improve the welfare of the Papuan people.

Regional autonomy expert, Djohermansyah Djohan, said that efficient and effective governance in Papua is still a problem. He is of the opinion that if the government wants to divide the Papua region, it can prepare a provincial preparation mechanism according to the Regional Government Law.

Through this mechanism, its formation is sufficient through PP. The preparatory area will be evaluated for three years and if successful then it can be designated as a new autonomous region through a law.

"The closer the government is to the people, the better it will serve its people. Papua is much larger than Java. If you want to manage a large area, actually (expansion) is a good way out because the condition of the control range is no longer in, "he said.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD emphasized that the government would make Papua into five provinces. Apart from Papua and West Papua, the country will soon form three provinces as new autonomous regions (DOB).