Papua Provincial Government: Development Must Respect Indigenous Rights

The Expert Staff to the Governor of Papua for Community and Cultural Development, Matias Mano, has asserted that development in Papua must be carried out with respect for the rights of local indigenous communities.

“Customary law plays a vital role in maintaining social stability, resolving conflicts peacefully, protecting communal land rights, and supporting development based on culture and local wisdom,” he stated in Jayapura on Friday.

According to Mano, the transformation of Papua involves more than just physical and economic development; it also requires maintaining social harmony, strengthening cultural identity, and ensuring justice for indigenous peoples in the Land of Papua.

“Customary law is the identity of the Indigenous Papuans (OAP), serving as a social foundation that maintains the relationship between humans, their peers, nature, communal lands, and the values of local wisdom passed down through generations,” he added.

He further noted that the government requires the active support of all customary leaders to maintain unity, peace, and regional stability for the sake of a better future for Papuan generations.

Mano added that the coordination activities of customary institutions across the Papua Province, organised by the Papua Department of Village and Customary Community Empowerment (DPMKA), are highly significant in the effort to build a Papua that is advanced, dignified, and remains rooted in the cultural identity of indigenous communities.

“Therefore, development in the Land of Papua must proceed with high respect for the existence of indigenous communities,” concluded Matias Mano.