The Mayor of Sorong urges the acceleration of the expansion of Southwest Papua

Sorong Mayor Lambert Jitmau said he was pushing for the acceleration of the expansion of the new autonomous region of Southwest Papua Province from West Papua Province in order to accelerate the development of people's welfare in Papua.

"The new autonomous region is considered to be able to accelerate the development and progress of the people in Papua," said Lambert Jitmau in Sorong, Thursday.

He explained that after the Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR RI passed three draft laws (RUU) related to the formation of a new province in Papua Province, it became a law.

According to him, the government and people in the Sorong region strongly support the government's policy of establishing the three new provinces, namely South Papua Province, Central Papua, and Central Highlands Papua.
 
It is said that the Province of West Papua should also become two provinces. The new province is Southwest Papua Province which has been proposed to the central government and is still waiting for an answer.

The proposal for the new autonomous region or DOB of Southwest Papua to encourage accelerated development, improve services, equity and community welfare, and support the administration of central government in the regions.

This, he said, was considering the various obstacles related to development in West Papua, one of which concerns the wide coverage area.

Lambert said that so far the government has made various efforts to support development in West Papua such as improving infrastructure, special autonomy funds (Otsus), and various other efforts.
 
However, due to the wide coverage of the West Papua region, he continued, these efforts have not yielded maximum results in achieving the target of community welfare.

"The area of such an area, like it or not, like it or not, a new autonomous region must be formed so that development and services to the community are maximized," he said.

On the other hand, the West Papua region has various potentials that can support expansion, both in the food sector and other sectors. In addition, the security aspect in the region is also considered to be well maintained so that the expansion in the West Papua region needs to be encouraged.

"Our Sorong Raya area lives in peace. And all the people in the Land of Papua agree to the division. Because Papua is an integral part of Indonesia," he said.

SOURCE : https://www.antaranews.com/berita/2875617/wali-kota-sorong-pus-percepatan-pemekaran-papua-barat-daya