South Papua Province Confirmed to Participate in the 2024 Election

The new autonomous region of South Papua Province (PPS) is certain to take part in the simultaneous general election (Pemilu) democratic party in 2024. Administratively, South Papua Province itself consists of Merauke, Boven Digul, Mappi and Asmat Regencies.

The chairman of the DPRD of Merauke Regency, Papua, Benjamin Izaac Rudolf Latumahina stated that South Papua Province has its own electoral district, after the Southern region was separated from Papua, which is the parent province. The new province along with two other provinces was ratified by the Indonesian House of Representatives at the end of last June. “It is clear that South Papua Province will have its own electoral district. In this law (South Papua Province, Central Papua and Central Highlands Papua), South Papua also participates in the 2024 election with its own stages," explained Benny Latumahina to reporters, Wednesday (14/9/2022).

Benny revealed that in the new autonomous regional law, the composition or number of seats for the DPR RI, DPR for South Papua Province and regencies/cities is clearly stated. However, he did not specify the number of seats for each region. "This means that the composition of the DPR RI has set how many seats, the DPR for South Papua Province how many seats, as well as regencies and cities," he said.

In addition, Benny said that what became very crucial to discuss was related to the derivative of the authority and institutional implementation of the Papua Province special autonomy policy as stated in Government Regulation Number 106 of 2021. "Regarding article 52 of PP 106 regarding the affirmation seat, this has not been technically discussed. . Of which 30 percent of the members of the DPR per district are appointed affirmative seats, in which there are 8 percent of the 8 people, 2 women representatives," said Benny.

Not only that, Benny also emphasized that the focus on setting seats per district had already been discussed considering that the inauguration of the South Papua Province would soon be carried out. Thus, the administration of the new provincial government began to run. "The composition of the affirmative seats for our provincial DPR is 35 seats. How do we four districts (Merauke, Biven Digul, Mappi, and Asmat) can manage how many seats per district. Can the number of Merauke reach Merauke 1, Merauke 2, become two electoral districts or what? It should have been focused there, “said Benny.

SOURCE: https://time.online/2022/09/15/10765/