Papuan Senator Elected Denies News Of Yorrys Raweyai Being A DPD Leader

JAKARTA - Senator of the DPD elected from Papua for the period 2024-2029, Paul Finsen Mayor, denied reports that all elected DPD members throughout Papua had proposed Yorrys Raweyai to be the leader of the DPD. Meanwhile, Filep Wamafma will be promoted as Deputy Chair of the MPR from the DPD envoy.

This rebuttal was conveyed by Paul Finsen in response to the news circulating after Yorrys and Filep held the Papuan Community Communication and Aspiration Forum (MPR RI for Papua) which invited elected DPD members throughout Papua for the 2024-2029 period on Friday, May 24.

Representing other elected Papuan DPD members, Paul Finsen Mayor from the electoral districts of Southwest Papua and Rev. David Harold Waromi from Papua explained that the narrative was not true.

"That in the MPR RI for Papua event, there is no determination and agreement regarding the support for Yorrys as the leader of the DPD RI or Filep as Deputy Chair of the MPR from the DPD RI," Paul Finsen Mayor told reporters, Wednesday, July 24.

The chairman of the Regional III Doberay Customary Council for West Papua and Southwest Papua Provinces revealed that in fact 11 of the 24 DPD members elected from 6 provinces in Papua actually supported the DPD leadership package, namely La Nyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, Nono Sampono, Elviana and Tamsil Linrung. The map of support, he said, could also increase.

"It is possible that the support from Papua for Pak La Nyalla, Pak Nono, Mrs. Elviana and Mr. Tamsil will increase again from the current 11," he said.

As a member of the DPD from Indigenous Papuans (OAP), Finsen asked all Papuan Senators to seriously fight for the affirmative development of Papua with a welfare approach. According to him, seriousness is more important than the matter of supporting the leadership.

"It's a more important job, rather than making a fuss of supporting support only for leadership seats, to making noise and being watched by people throughout Indonesia, not good," he said.

Finsen said that his party would appreciate what La Nyalla and Nono Sampono have done as leaders of the DPR for the 2019-2024 period in their alignment with Papua so far. According to him, the Senator from East Java has proven concretely to fight for the expansion of Papua Province. In fact, up to two meetings specifically with the Vice President.

In addition, he said, La Nyalla also voiced the need for a welfare approach in building Papua.

"Mr. La Nyalla was also present and supported the construction of the Papua Bangkit Vocational School and the Dutch Football School as part of the development of Papuan HR," he said.

Meanwhile, Nono Sampono, added Finsen, also played an active role in facilitating the resolution of various problems that occurred in Papua. Including resolving the deadlock between PT Freeport and the Provincial Government regarding groundwater prices.

"Where Mr. Nono at that time clearly sided with the Papuan people," he said.

Finsen also brought up the incident in 2017. He said Nono Sampono also initiated the Archipelago Regional Bill which is also very useful for Papua, especially the Raja Ampat Islands.

"That's why we as members of the DPD RI elected from Papua chose a clearly committed statesman to Papua, namely the DPD RI Leadership Package La Nyalla, Nono Sampono, Elviana and Tamsil Linrung to bring the DPD RI to be stronger and more dignified," he concluded.

Previously, the name Yorrys Raweyai appeared at the elected DPD meeting throughout the Land of Papua to be nominated as the leader of the DPD for the 2024-2029 period. Yorrys is claimed to be the only candidate from the Land of Papua to be carried by 24 votes or a total of 16 percent of the votes from Earth of Cenderawasih.

MPR for Papua Secretary, Filep Wamafma, said the DPD was elected throughout the Land of Papua to delegate Yorrys Raweyai as a candidate for DPD leadership/

"Pak Yorrys, we delegated to advance from representatives of eastern Indonesia II, namely Papua. We will move to ask for support from friends in Maluku, Sulawesi to Sumatra. The votes in Papua are already 16 percent and we are ready to bring Pak Yorrys to lead the DPD RI," said Filep, Friday, May 24.

Filep said, if there are Papuans who sit as leaders of the DPD RI, they will remove all stigma from Papua, which always states that Papua is not ready, human resources are limited, unable and so on.

"We want to remove this stigma and with Pak Yorrys being the leader of the DPD RI can raise the dignity of the Papuan people on par with other leaders and make history for Papuan land," he said.