By: Sabby Kosay )*
The planned expansion of the Papua region is considered to be a number of parties so crucial. In addition to encouraging the welfare sector citizens will also be able to develop the region towards progress.
Life in congregation and groups in a society would be more beautiful if they supported, tolerated, and respected each other. Especially with regard to development, it seems that the role of the community is also very necessary. Can be in the form of dialogue or suggestions, criticisms and also real contributions. Even with the Papuan Religious Leaders who fully support the implementation of the division in the Earth of Paradise.
Rev. Alberth Yoku, argued that regarding the division could accelerate development and bring prosperity. Not the other way around as it has been advocated by those who disagree with this effort. He also considered if the division had certainly been through a study or approach, for example such as geographical factors, as well as the rules that have been applied. According to him, the stakeholders in Papua welcomed and appreciated that the region needed more attention than other regions through the pemekaran process.
Rev. Alberth was accompanied by the Chairman of the Papuan Traditional Youth, Yan Christian Lebo. Stating that there should be a negative or skewed response that Team 61 does not have credibility. He added that he and other figures were officially invited by the state through the presidency. There also met with LIPI and the Papua Peace network, then only headed for the palace. He considered this team was not random, but came from the religion recognized by Papua. Including Muslim religious figures, the Regent of Puncak Jaya, some were from West Papua and representatives from 7 Indigenous territories.
According to him, a number of individual statements that have appeared in the public are not official statements from the institution he leads. Because, it is counterproductive to the policies of the central government that wants Papua to be more advanced. Or at least parallel with other regions in Indonesia. He added that what he and the team 61 discussed at the Palace was the mandate of the state. So anyone who is in the Papua region, must carry out what was instructed.
The former Chair of the GKI Synod in Tanah Papua also stressed that the division for Papua had actually been contained in Law Number 39 of 1999, at that time Papua was still called Irian Jaya. Which has been divided into several regions and is not based on the case that is recently rife. However, this basis has been around for a long time and then there was a Moratorium. So it can be concluded this discourse of expansion is not new, and it wants to continue.
He suspected that those who accused Team 61 were those who were not pro-policy of the central government, so their status was doubtful. If as a citizen, they should be obedient and submit to the policies issued, but the accuser of this kind must be questioned. Are these sneering parties pro-state or are there other interests.
One of the hopes that the division of Papua Province must be realized is coming from the Central Papuan Regents who are collaborating with a team from UGM (Universitaa Gadjah Mada), Yogyakarta to conduct a study of the division in the province.
Back to the statement of the Peak Regent Willem Wandik. He mentioned that the study of the independent team he carried out was in accordance with the request of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and the Minister of the Interior (Minister of Home Affairs) namely, Tito Karnavian. He hopes that the cooperation by collaborating with UGM to study objectively and wisely, aims not only at the origin of the desire for power, considering that Papua is very wide, so the range of control is extraordinary.
Seen from the enthusiasm of Papuans to welcome the planned expansion, they realize the importance of development efforts. It will not only improve all sectors but also equalize welfare. So indeed this division must continue to be carried out so that development can also be realized quickly. Including being able to catch up from other regions. As we know Papua is a rich country, if it is not supported by development then the people will not develop. The conclusion is that this effort has indeed been desired by the Papuan people themselves, not as alleged by irresponsible parties that the division is only a government monopoly.
)* The author is a social political observer