Four DPRP Fractions Support Working Committee for Central West Papua New Autonomous Region
Manokwari (ANTARA) - Four out of the six factions of the West Papua Provincial Legislative Council (Duju DPRP) support the formation of a working committee (panja) to follow up on aspirations for the creation of the Central West Papua New Autonomous Region (DOB).
The Chairman of the West Papua DPRP, Orgenes Wonggor, stated in Manokwari on Tuesday that four factions expressed the same view during a plenary session on Monday night (31/8) regarding the aspirations of the people in the Bomberay customary area.
“The aspirations presented through the four factions will be promptly followed up by forming a working committee to safeguard the aspirations of the Bomberay indigenous community,” said Orgenes.
The four factions include the Golkar Party faction, the Amanat Sejahtera faction, the Bangkit Gerakan Indonesia Raya faction, and the Special Autonomy (Otsus) faction.
The proposal for the formation of the Central West Papua Province in the Bomberay customary area covers four regencies: Teluk Bintuni, Teluk Wondama, Fakfak, and Kaimana.
“The council secretariat will subsequently issue a decree (SK) for the working committee. While the expansion of regional boundaries falls under the authority of the central government, we will continue to fight for the community’s aspirations,” he added.
West Papua Regional Secretary Ali Baham Temongmere stated that every aspiration for regional expansion must refer to statutory regulations and meet the requirements set by the central government.
According to him, Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Papua Special Autonomy provides space for communities in seven customary regions to express aspirations regarding regional expansion. These seven customary regions are Mamta, Saireri, La Pago, Mee Pago, Anim Ha, Bomberay, and Domberay.
“The regulations allow it and Special Autonomy also provides space, but so far there are two customary regions that have not yet been accommodated by the state,” said Ali Baham.
Rachmad C. Sinamur, spokesperson for the Amanat Sejahtera faction of the West Papua DPRP, noted that the aspirations for the formation of the Central West Papua Province from the Bomberay indigenous community were submitted several years ago, but efforts have been hindered by the regional expansion moratorium policy.
Proposals for the formation of the Central West Papua Province have previously been submitted to the central government. In January 2023, the regional heads and deputy regional heads of Teluk Wondama, Teluk Bintuni, Fakfak, and Kaimana regencies agreed on the proposal for the creation of the Central West Papua DOB, encompassing these four regencies.
Rachmad stated that these aspirations need to be followed up at the local government level while preparing other requirements, including the formation of new regencies to ensure the parent province maintains an adequate territorial coverage.