Legislators Ask The Government To Take Firm Steps Regarding Papua's Security

MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo and Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (ANTARA)

"The MPR RI asks the Government to immediately take firmer steps in normalizing security in Papua," said MPR Chairman Bambang Soesatyo at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Kemenkopolhukam), Jakarta.

"We at the MPR encourage the Government to immediately take firmer and measurable steps for the normalization of security in Papua," said Bambang Soesatyo as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 31.

This push was one of the things discussed during the visit of the MPR RI with the MPR For Papua to the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs and was received directly by Mahfud MD.

In addition, Bambang said that his party also encouraged the Government to further socialize the agreement contained in regional autonomy policies and special autonomy funds (otsus) in Papua.

"In accordance with the agreement on the contents of regional autonomy and the special autonomy fund regarding free education and health for all Papuans. Of course, it is also accompanied by an increase in educational and health facilities and infrastructure, plus an increase in human resources and teachers there. I think that's the point we discussed earlier," he explained.

Previously, on the same occasion, Mahfud conveyed that in general the meeting with Bambang Soesatyo, Deputy Chairperson of the MPR Fadel Muhammad, and Chairman of the MPR For Papua Yorrys Raweyai aimed at discussing the follow-up to Papua's development after the issuance of Law Number 2 of 2021 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province.

Mahfud said the short-term issues in Papua were also discussed, namely the preparation of government infrastructure, the establishment of a new autonomous region (DOB), and preparations for holding the 2024 General Election in four provincial DOBs in Papua, namely South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Mountains, and Southwest Papua.

Next, it was also discussed about long-term issues, one of which was related to educational issues in Papua. In the hearing it was agreed that in the next two weeks there would be a special and comprehensive meeting regarding this matter.