Government and House of Representatives Have Not Agree on the West Papua Bill to be ratified in 2022

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin received three new Acting Governors of Papua at the Vice President's Palace in Jakarta on Monday, November 14, 2022 (ANTARA/BPMI Setwapres)

JAKARTA - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin hopes that the House of Representatives (DPR) will immediately ratify the Southwest Papua Bill (RUU). Completion of the bill so as not to interfere with the 2024 Simultaneous General Election stage.

"The Vice President really hopes that Southwest Papua will be part of the series of DOB (New Autonomous Regions) so that everything can be completed, we are waiting for the Plenary Session of the DPR, this is a political matter for the DPR", said Special Staff of the Vice President Masduki Baidhowi at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Monday, November 14.

It is known that the government will propose a government regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) as an implication of the formation of three new autonomous regions in Papua, namely the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, and Papua Mountains to accommodate the 2024 Simultaneous Elections in the three provinces.

However, the finalization of the Perppu has been hampered by the ratification of the Southwest Papua Bill which is still in the hands of the DPR because in the preparation of the Perppu it has been regulated regarding the electoral district in Southwest Papua. Thus, the finalization of the electoral Perppu awaits the ratification of the Southwest Papua Bill.

If until 6 December 2022 the Southwest Papua Bill is not finalized, then it is impossible to include it in the Perppu.

"Actually, the Perppu draft has been completed, it is just waiting for political developments in the DPR related to Southwest Papua, whether Southwest Papua will be included in the current series or not, really depends on when the plenary session will be held by the DPR", said Masduki.

If the DPR Plenary Session will be held in November 2022, Masduki said that the province of Southwest Papua could still be included in the expansion development package.

"But if, for example, it is not (ratified) in November 2022, it means that Southwest Papua will already enter the next 2024 political year", Masduki added.

Masduki revealed that Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked the Ministry of Home Affairs and other parties to approach the DPR.

"To approach DPR friends, how to be united because this is dealing with a very serious problem, regarding the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia related to the development of Papua. November is the key word, 'deadline' to be able to resolve everything", said Masduki.

He hopes that the political decision in the DPR will not pass the time by December 6, 2022.

"Don't go through that, it must be before that, November is the keyword. If it's December 2022, it will be a hassle. (Southwest Papua) can be left behind", said Masduki.

The Vice President today, Monday, November 14, received a visit from three Acting Governors of the newly expanded Papua Province, namely Apolo Safanpo as Acting Director. Governor of South Papua, Rebekah Haluk as Acting. Governor of Central Papua, and Nikolaus Kondomo as Acting. The Governor of Papua Mountains together with Deputy Minister of Home Affairs John Wempi Wetipo and Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs Suhajar Diantoro.

Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, inaugurated three Pj. The Governor of Papua on November 11, 2022, who came from the civilian community as well as native Papuan sons and daughters who passed the selection of the Final Assessment Team (TPA). They were inaugurated based on the Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 115/P of 2022 dated November 10, 2022, concerning the Appointment of the Acting Governor.

Previously, Apolo was the Chancellor of the Cenderawasih University in Papua, Nikolaus was the Head of the Papua High Prosecutor's Office, and Ribka was the Head of the Social Population and Civil Registry Service for Papua, and even served as the Acting Regent of Yalimo, Papua.

Before being sworn in as acting governors, the three were officially appointed as expert staff. Apolo is the Expert Staff for the Minister of Home Affairs for Government Affairs, Nikolaus is the Expert Staff for Inter-Agency Relations and International Cooperation at the Attorney General's Office, and Ribka is the Expert Staff for the Minister of Home Affairs for Apparatus and Public Services.