Speaker Of DPR: Expansion Of 3 New Provinces In Papua For Equitable Development

Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani/DOK VIA ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, emphasized the expansion of the territory of three new provinces in Papua for equitable development.

"The addition of a province in eastern Indonesia is intended to accelerate equitable development in Papua and to serve the Papuan people better," said Puan in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, April 8.

He expressed support for the three new provinces, namely South Papua Province, Central Papua Province, and Central Highlands Papua Province.

The division of territory in Papua is contained in a draft law (RUU) proposed by Commission II of the DPR. The bill for the three new Papua provinces was approved in a decision-making plenary meeting on the results of the harmonization of the bill in the Legislation Body of the DPR.

Puan said the regional expansion in Papua was aimed at improving public services and the welfare of the Papuan people. With the addition of provinces, Puan hopes that Papua can progress further.

"The bill that regulates the division of 3 new regions is an effort to raise the dignity of the Papuan people," he explained.

The three new provinces on Earth of Cenderawasih, he said. later it will cover dozens of regencies which are now included in Papua Province.

South Papua Province (Ha Anim) will make Merauke the capital, then the capital of Central Papua Province (Meepago) will be in Timika, and the capital of Central Highlands Papua Province (Lapago) will be Wamena.

After the bill on the expansion of the region in Papua is passed as a DPR Initiative Bill at the Plenary Session, the discussion of the bill will continue in level I discussions with the government.

Puan ensured that the policy regarding the division of the region would be harmonized with the Papua Special Autonomy Law (Otsus).

"In the discussion of this bill later in order to pay attention to the aspirations and needs of the Papuan people," said Puan.

With the addition of three new provinces in Papua, he said, Indonesia would one day have 37 provinces. Puan asked the community for support in this regard.