Southwest Papua and North Maluku table documents on three disputed islands

Deputy Governor of Southwest Papua Ahmad Nausrau said in Sorong on Tuesday that the documents were tabled at a meeting facilitated by the Directorate General of Regional Administration at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Jakarta on Thursday (3/9).

“The meeting was to compare data from both provinces. North Maluku presented their supporting data, and Southwest Papua likewise submitted supporting documents regarding the status of the three islands,” he said.

According to Ahmad, the Southwest Papua provincial government brought a number of documents to strengthen its claim that the three islands are part of Raja Ampat Regency.

The provincial government also submitted maps and territorial documents from the Dutch colonial era as part of the historical evidence supporting its claim.

“The supporting data includes laws, presidential decrees, ministerial regulations, regional regulations, gubernatorial regulations, regent regulations, as well as supporting maps, both from the Dutch colonial period and regulations issued by the Indonesian government,” he said.

Ahmad said that, based on the documents held by the Southwest Papua provincial government, the three islands have historically been regarded as part of the territory of Papua and subsequently of Raja Ampat.

“If we look at it, all the data consistently shows that the three islands fall within Papua’s territory, and all the regulations support it,” he said.

According to Ahmad, the provincial government also submitted data on the use and management of the three islands by local communities and the regional government to strengthen its argument.

He said geographical factors and the ties of indigenous communities also formed part of the provincial government’s argument for its claim over the three islands.

At the meeting, the Southwest Papua provincial government asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to present and assess all documents submitted by both parties objectively.

Ahmad said his side raised objections because not all of the documents brought by the provincial government were displayed during the discussion.

“We asked that all the data we submitted be displayed and assessed objectively,” he said.

The government of Central Halmahera Regency is also maintaining that the three islands are part of its territory, putting forward historical, juridical and administrative arguments to the central government.

The coordination meeting on 3 September 2026 was a follow-up to a review request filed by the Southwest Papua provincial government concerning the designation of the three islands.

Ahmad said the provincial government will continue to communicate with the central government and relevant parties to pursue its claim over the three islands.

According to him, further meetings remain possible to discuss and re-verify the documents of both provinces before the central government takes steps towards a resolution.

Ahmad expressed hope that the territorial administrative issue will be resolved carefully to avoid conflict among communities.

“Let there not be conflict simply because of a wrong decision made by the Ministry of Home Affairs,” he said.