Papua tribes need Rp 47b<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Papua: The Papua Regional Office for Community
\nDevelopment (BPMD) hopes to secure Rp 47 billion in funds from
\nthe government to develop isolated tribes in 14 remote areas in
\nthe province, an official said on Saturday.<\/p>\n
BPMD chairman Tedjo Suprapto said his office had yet to
\nreceive a response to the funding request from the Regional
\nDevelopment Planning and Controlling Body or the provincial
\nlegislative council. The BPMD submitted the proposal for funds to
\nhelp tribes in the Jayapura, Jayawijaya, Merauke, Mimika, Fakfak,
\nManokwari, Sorong, Nabire, Puncak Jaya, Paniai and Yapen Waropen
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
Tedjo voiced concern over the continuation of tribal
\ndevelopment projects, including infrastructure and educational
\nprojects, if the government failed to disburse the funds this
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
\"The (tribal members) are Indonesians who deserve support just
\nlike their brothers in other regions. They live in such poor
\nconditions on such prosperous land,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Research by the Summer Institut of Linguistik (SIL), in
\ncooperation with Cenderawasih University, showed that were 253
\ntribes with their own languages in Papua, with about 75 percent
\nof these tribes classified as isolated.<\/p>\n
Tedjo said that while the government had failed to provide
\nsupport for the isolated tribes, some missionaries and
\nhumanitarian organizations had been working with the tribes for
\nyears.<\/p>\n
\"As a government official, I will be ashamed to face the
\nfoundations and foreign missionaries if the government fails to
\ndisburse the funds, because the tribes really need the
\ngovernment's support,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Officials here have come to an agreement that the government
\njust has to provide the funds and supervision, while the BPMD,
\nthe Social Welfare Body, humanitarian organizations and religious
\ninstitutions will take on the active role of helping the tribes
\ndevelop,\" Tedjo said. --Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papua-tribes-need-rp-47b-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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