Jayapura Regent Asks President Jokowi To Attend Indigenous Peoples Congress In Papua

JAKARTA - Jayapura Regent Mathius Awoitauw asked President Joko Widodo to attend the VI Congress of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (KMAN) next October in Papua.

After the meeting of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and the West Papuan People's Assembly with President Jokowi at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Mathius said that the activity that unites indigenous peoples throughout Indonesia is a symbol of brotherhood and kinship.

"Mr. President, we ask to be present to open (the event) and there will be family brotherhood. So, there are no differences in religion, ethnicity, which have been discussed nationally," he said, quoted by Antara, Friday, May 20.

Mathius, who represents the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and the West Papuan People's Assembly, explained the plan for the implementation of KMAN VI on October 24-29, 2022.

As many as 6,000 to 8,000 people who are indigenous people from all over Indonesia are present in Papua by presenting exhibitions and art and cultural stages from their region of origin.

"That could be up to 8,000 people from all over Indonesia, present in Papua, living in people's homes," said Mathius.

Based on information from the official website of Jayapura Regency, KMAN VI will be held in the Tanah Tabi area. All participants will occupy residents' houses and make a meeting as a series of congress activities.

Tanah Tabi is one of the areas proposed for provincial expansion in the formation of a new autonomous region (DOB) in Papua Province.

In his meeting with President Jokowi, Mathius explained that the plan to form a new autonomous region has been a pure aspiration of Papuans for a long time. South Papua, for example, has been fighting for 20 years.

"So, this is not something that just appeared suddenly. However, this is a pure aspiration, both from South Papua and Tabi, Saereri, La Pago, and Mee Pago," he said.

Mathius emphasized that the Special Autonomy Law binds all communities throughout Papua, and provides legal certainty to manage the spaces owned by indigenous peoples based on the seven customary territories in Papuan land.