Deputy Governor of Southwest Papua Ahmad Nausrau said in Sorong on\nTuesday that the documents were tabled at a meeting facilitated by the\nDirectorate General of Regional Administration at the Ministry of Home\nAffairs in Jakarta on Thursday (3\/9).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe meeting was to compare data from both provinces. North Maluku\npresented their supporting data, and Southwest Papua likewise submitted\nsupporting documents regarding the status of the three islands,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to Ahmad, the Southwest Papua provincial government brought\na number of documents to strengthen its claim that the three islands are\npart of Raja Ampat Regency.<\/p>\n
The provincial government also submitted maps and territorial\ndocuments from the Dutch colonial era as part of the historical evidence\nsupporting its claim.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe supporting data includes laws, presidential decrees, ministerial\nregulations, regional regulations, gubernatorial regulations, regent\nregulations, as well as supporting maps, both from the Dutch colonial\nperiod and regulations issued by the Indonesian government,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said that, based on the documents held by the Southwest Papua\nprovincial government, the three islands have historically been regarded\nas part of the territory of Papua and subsequently of Raja Ampat.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we look at it, all the data consistently shows that the three\nislands fall within Papua\u2019s territory, and all the regulations support\nit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Ahmad, the provincial government also submitted data on\nthe use and management of the three islands by local communities and the\nregional government to strengthen its argument.<\/p>\n
He said geographical factors and the ties of indigenous communities\nalso formed part of the provincial government\u2019s argument for its claim\nover the three islands.<\/p>\n
At the meeting, the Southwest Papua provincial government asked the\nMinistry of Home Affairs to present and assess all documents submitted\nby both parties objectively.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said his side raised objections because not all of the\ndocuments brought by the provincial government were displayed during the\ndiscussion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe asked that all the data we submitted be displayed and assessed\nobjectively,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The government of Central Halmahera Regency is also maintaining that\nthe three islands are part of its territory, putting forward historical,\njuridical and administrative arguments to the central government.<\/p>\n
The coordination meeting on 3 September 2026 was a follow-up to a\nreview request filed by the Southwest Papua provincial government\nconcerning the designation of the three islands.<\/p>\n
Ahmad said the provincial government will continue to communicate\nwith the central government and relevant parties to pursue its claim\nover the three islands.<\/p>\n
According to him, further meetings remain possible to discuss and\nre-verify the documents of both provinces before the central government\ntakes steps towards a resolution.<\/p>\n
Ahmad expressed hope that the territorial administrative issue will\nbe resolved carefully to avoid conflict among communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet there not be conflict simply because of a wrong decision made by\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs,\u201d he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/southwest-papua-and-north-maluku-table-documents-on-three-disputed-islands-1788858184", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }