Jokowi: The expansion of three new autonomous regions in Papua due to requests from below

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the establishment of three provinces of the New Autonomous Region (DOB) in Papua, namely South Papua, Central Papua and Papua Mountains, was based on requests from below.

“I myself heard, the government heard requests from below. I went to Merauke asking, I went to the Central Mountains, the groups came to me, and it was seven years ago, six years ago, five years ago, and we are following up slowly, this is a request from below from the groups here "President Jokowi said after launching the Papua Football Academy (PFA) at the Lukas Enembe Stadium, Sentani, Papua, Wednesday, as broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's Youtube channel.

The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) in June 2022 ratified a bill (RUU) for three new autonomous regions (DOB) in Papua into law, namely the Provinces of South Papua, Central Papua and Papua Mountains.

With the enactment of the law for the three new autonomous regions, the government immediately formed a government and a legal umbrella governing the filling of people's representative seats in the three new autonomous regions (DOB) of Papua.

President Jokowi said the division with the formation of the three new autonomous regions was aimed at equitable development on Cenderawasih Earth. The government, he said, also wants to increase the reach of public services to reach all regions in Papua.

"Because the land of Papua is too wide if there are only two provinces, it is too wide to facilitate the reach of services," he said.

Jokowi considers it natural that there are pros and cons related to the expansion of the three new regions, because of the dynamics of the democratic process.

"Once again, it's a request from below, that there are pros and cons, that's what democracy is called," he said.

According to the government, the division of the province in Papua is a mandate from Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua, especially Article 76 which consists of five paragraphs that the division must pay attention to political, administrative, legal, unitary, socio-cultural aspects, readiness of human resources. , basic infrastructure, and economic capacity.

SOURCE : https://www.antaranews.com/berita/3089997/jokowi-pemekaran-tiga-dob-di-papua-karena-permintaan-dari- Bawah