The Expansion of a New Province in Papua, Ex-OPM Leader: I Support!

Recently, the government through the Legislation Body of the DPR RI approved a new province in Indonesia.

Later, there will be 3 new provinces and make Indonesia have 37 provinces.

This decision is contained in the Draft Law (RUU) concerning the Provinces of South Papua, Central Papua Province, and Papua Central Mountains Province.

This approval was carried out at a plenary meeting which was held on Wednesday (6/4/2022).
 
"After we listened to the opinions of all factions and agreed. Can the results of the harmonization of the Bill on the Provinces of South Papua, Central Papua and Papua Central Mountains be approved?" asked Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council of the DPR Achmad Baidowi in a meeting.

Then the trial participants answered in agreement and finally the bill was passed.

With this ratification, there will be three new provinces, namely South Papua Province (Ha Anim), Central Papua Province (Meepago), and Central Highlands Papua Province (Lapago).

Responding to the expansion of the new province in Papua, former leader of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) Nicolas Messet supports this.

"It is a blessing from God that the government gave the division of Papua," Nicolas said through a press release received by Tribun-Papua.com, Thursday (21/4/2022).

"This is solely for the progress of the Papuan people. So that everything goes well, and the community is prosperous," he continued.

Through the expansion, said Nicolas, all communities have their respective responsibilities to promote and prosper their people in accordance with the New Autonomous Region (DOB).

"If the division is in accordance with their customary territory, then everyone has responsibility for their territory," he said.

According to him, Papua was final through the recognition of the UN Security Council on November 19, 1969, which confirmed that Papua is part of the Republic of Indonesia.

"So if there are plots, then the indications are that they want Papua to be free. I said the UN Security Council has recognized that Papua is part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia."

"DOB should be welcomed happily, because the population of Papua is around 5 million people. If there is a new province, development can touch the community to remote areas," he said.

Regarding fears that arise, such as the presence of non OAP (Indigenous Papuans) who come and find jobs, according to him, it is better for the legislature and executive to make regulations to limit it.

Papuans say they still have complicated thoughts, they still think for themselves and think that Papua is only owned by Papuans.

"It must be shared. Because I said earlier, Papua is part of the Republic of Indonesia. I really appreciate Mr. Vice President who gave these seven provinces," he said.

According to him, the government must also prepare Papuan Human Resources (HR) to be able to work and be successful without expecting it like money falling from the sky.

He continued, the important note is that Papuan children must be educated to work, don't be lazy. Trained to be able to work independently.

SOURCE: https://papua.tribunnews.com/2022/04/21/pemekaran-provinsi-baru-di-papua-eks-figure-opm-saya-support