By : Levi Raema Wenda)*
The New Autonomous Region Law (UU DOB) was officially ratified by the Government. This law was ratified through the Plenary Session of Session V for Session Year 2021-2022 on Thursday, June 30, 2022 ago. With the ratification of this law, Papua will have three new provinces, namely Central Papua Province, South Papua, and Papua Mountains.
Prior to the ratification, the Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives, Ahmad Doli Kurnia Tandjung, reported on the discussion of the draft bill for the expansion of Papua. He said that the expansion was aimed at accelerating equitable development, as well as accelerating the improvement of public services. The division of Papua also accelerates welfare and elevates the dignity of the community.
Puncak Regent Willem Wandik said that although all over Indonesia wanted to expand, the central government had given special attention to Papua. This division is necessary because of the long span of government control. Willem added that the expansion would bring prosperity to Papua. This is because in the future new leaders will emerge, and create jobs for the people in Papua.
The division of Papua will also answer the challenges of development problems in Papua. Papua, which has a fairly large area, is constrained by its geographical conditions and topographical conditions. After Papua was divided, the development difficulties that arise due to these factors can be resolved properly. This is because the physical development of local government and community service centers that were previously located far from settlements can be trimmed with construction in new locations that reach more people.
The ratification of the new autonomous region law will give birth to new provinces, namely Central Papua Province, South Papua, and Papua Mountains. The capital of the province of Central Papua is Nabire. This province comes from parts of the Papua Province which include the districts of Nabire, Puncak Jaya, Paniai, Mimika, Puncak, Dogiyai, Intan Jaya, and Deiyai.
Next is the province of South Papua, whose capital is Merauke. This province comes from a number of regions in Papua which include Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi, and Asmat regencies. Finally, Papua Mountains Province, whose capital is Jayawijaya. This province includes the districts of Jayawijaya, Bintang Mountains, Yahukimo, Tolikara, Central Memberamo, Yalimo, Lanny Jaya, and Nduga.
DPR Commission II member Guspardi Gaus explained that the entire budget for the three new autonomous regions in Papua will be taken from the APBN. After the government ratifies the new autonomous region law, the next step is to appoint a temporary official as governor in three new provinces until the 2024 Pilkada is held.
The realization of the division of the province in Papua has been a dream that the people of Papua have been waiting for for a long time. The struggle for the formation of new autonomous regions is an effort made by the government to be closer to the Papuan people. Because DOB is a form of Indonesia’s love for Papua, a Black Pearl in eastern Indonesia.
)* The author is a Papuan Observer, a former journalist for local media in Papua.
