Many Matters Of Cenderawasih Crown Destroyed, Ministry Of Transportation Apologizes To Papua

The destruction of the Cendrawasih crown was opset by BBKSDA Papua in Jayapura, Monday (20/10). BETWEEN/HO/Documentation

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) apologized to the Papuan people, especially to traditional leaders and the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), regarding the destruction of evidence in the form of offsets and the Cenderawasih crown on October 20, 2025 in Jayapura.

"We apologize for the disappointment and hurt felt by the Papuan people. We understand that the Cenderawasih crown is not just an object, but a symbol of the honor and cultural identity of the Papuan people," Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) Kememperhut Satyawan Pudyatmoko in a statement confirmed by ANTARA, Thursday, October 23.

He explained that the destruction was part of the law enforcement process against the trade of protected wildlife and its parts, as regulated in Law Number 5 of 1990 as amended by Law Number 32 of 2024 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems.

However, his party understands that some of the evidence has a high cultural value for the Papuan people.

He ensured that there was not the slightest intention of the Ministry of Transportation to offend, ignore cultural values, or injure the Papuan people. The incident is purely within the framework of law enforcement efforts.

"This incident is also an important lesson for all of our ranks, so that in every step of making decisions in the field, we also prioritize overall considerations of social and cultural aspects," he said.

"Conservation is not only a matter of protecting and protecting animals in nature, but also about respecting cultural values and local wisdom. We are committed to continuing to build communication and collaboration with the Papuan people by upholding the principle of mutual respect," he added.

As a follow-up, he said, the Ministry of Transportation has instructed the Papua Natural Resources Conservation Center (BBKSDA) to immediately communicate and dialogue with traditional institutions, MRP, and local community leaders.

Dialogue aims to strengthen mutual understanding and formulate a better mechanism in handling evidence of wildlife that has cultural value, and in efforts to conserve biological natural resources in the Papua region.

"We will review the possibility that cultural-valued evidence can be managed to support educational functions through collaboration with traditional institutions or regional museums, without reducing the legal aspect of wildlife protection," he said.

The Ministry of Transportation reiterated its commitment that Cenderawasih conservation can be in line with respect to Papuan culture. Cenderawasih birds are not only Indonesia's biodiversity, but also symbols and pride of the Papuan people that must be maintained together.