'It's An Ancestral Heritage, Our Self-respect,' Governor Elisa Kambu Ready To Take Legal Paths To 'Rebut' 3 Islands

Governor of Southwest Papua Elisa Kambu during a working visit to Raja Ampat Regency, Thursday (11/9/2025). ANTARA/Yuvensius Lasa Banafanu

PAPUA - The Provincial Government of Southwest Papua will take legal steps to retake three islands in Raja Ampat Regency, which are now administratively entering the Central Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province.

The Governor of Southwest Papua, Elisa Kambu, explained that the three islands are legitimate areas of Papua and must be returned to their origins.

"These three islands are part of Papuan land, the ancestral heritage of the people of Raja Ampat. That's our pride. So, we have to return to Papua," he said in Raja Ampat, Antara, Thursday, September 11.

In connection with efforts to return the three islands, Governor Elisa Kambu held a limited meeting with the Regent and Deputy Regent of Raja Ampat, traditional leaders, DPRD, and elements of the local community to unite steps to deal with regional boundaries disputes.

The governor said the three disputed islands, namely Sayang Island or Sain, Piay Island, and Kiyas Island, had long been in the traditional and administrative area of Raja Ampat.

However, in 2021, the three islands will be declared to have entered the North Maluku Province through a decision issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

"This is an administrative error that must be corrected. We will take all legal and constitutional mechanisms so that the status of the islands is returned to Southwest Papua," he said.

The legal steps prepared by the local government have received full support from the indigenous peoples of the Maya Tribe, especially the Kawei sub-Suku which live in the area.

This support was realized in the form of an official statement signed by representatives of indigenous peoples, the DPRD of Raja Ampat Regency, and the DPR of Southwest Papua.

Previously, a joint team from the Southwest Papua Provincial Government and the Raja Ampat Regency Government conducted a direct review of the three islands.

From the results of the visit, a number of important facts were found, namely Sayang/Sain Island has been inhabited by 53 people and there are 15 houses built by the Central Halmahera Regency Government, while the Raja Ampat Regency Government has also built five houses and a boundary monument in 2016.

Then Piay Island, since 2006 has become a jointly managed green turtle conservation location between the Raja Ampat Regency Government and the Papuan Turtle Foundation.

Meanwhile, the condition of Kiyas Island experienced severe abrasion and needed immediate environmental treatment.

In addition to administrative struggles, Governor Elisa also emphasized the commitment of local governments to pay attention to the welfare of residents on the three islands through the program of building livable houses, places of worship, clean water, and support for MSMEs to be rolled out.