Ministry of Home Affairs sends team to draft special regional regulations in Papua Pegunungan to prevent tribal conflicts

The drafting of two regional regulations under Papua’s special autonomy law (Otsus) aims to prevent future inter-tribal social conflicts and enforce positive law. The Indonesian Ministry of Home Affairs has sent a team to assist in drafting special regional regulations (Raperdasus) and provincial regulations (Raperdasi) aimed at preventing social conflicts in Papua Pegunungan. The ministry’s team is currently reviewing each clause of the Raperdasus and Raperdasi drafts with the Papua Pegunungan provincial government. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Ribka Haluk stated in a written statement from Wamena on Friday that the ministry’s team has been assisting the Papua Pegunungan provincial government in drafting regulations to prevent social conflicts in the region. She said the recent social conflict in Wamena, Jayawijaya Regency, had caused deep sorrow, making it crucial to draft these regulations to deter tribal warfare. ‘Going forward, anyone initiating social conflicts will face immediate security action under applicable laws,’ she added. She explained that a traditional arrow-breaking ceremony had taken place at Jayawijaya Police Headquarters between the conflicting tribes, ensuring tribal warfare would not recur in Wamena or elsewhere in Papua Pegunungan. Meanwhile, Papua Pegunungan Governor John Tabo called for the regulations to serve as the legal foundation for resolving social conflicts in the region. ‘We urge all residents to maintain security and order, resolving disputes through Indonesia’s legal system rather than tribal conflicts,’ he said.