Ethnic Groups in Papua Voices Support of Central Papua Province Formation

JAKARTADAILY.ID - Several members of the Papuan community have voiced their aspirations for the formation of a new autonomous region of Central Papua Province.

The aspirations for the new autonomous region of Central Papua also led to the suggestion of Timika as its capital city.

The Head of Action Coordinator for the Declaration of New Guinea for Central Papua, Karel Kum, claimed that there were 18 representatives from each ethnic group in Timika who held a declaration of support for the Province of Central Papua.

The Amungme tribe along with the Kamoro tribe said they accepted the capital city of Central Papua Province to be placed in Timika.

He expects all parties to support and accept this plan.

"We accept the province of Central Papua, [with its capital] in Timika — this is non-negotiable. Anyone who refuses to [accept] go against the [local] rules," Karel said in a press statement on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Indigenous peoples have held rallies in order to voice the aspirations of the new autonomous region of Central Papua, he said. The rally participants visited the Mimika Regent's Office, Wednesday, April 13, 2022. Each tribal representative then gave a statement declaring support for the establishment of the Central Papua Province.

"This [rally] is a form of support for the government for the formation of the new autonomous regions of Central Papua with its capital in Timika," he said.

There were three points in the declaration called "United Mimika", namely, first, to support efforts to resolve the conflict in Papua with dignity in order to achieve a peaceful Papua.

Then, to encourage the resolution of the Papua problem by reconciliation and restitution towards a safe Papua.

Then, to support the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law No. 2 of 2021 and the plan to expand the new autonomous regions towards a peaceful, safe, and prosperous Papua.

Karel claimed that the declaration activity was attended by 3,000 Mimika people from various indigenous tribes in Mimika Regency.

The event was attended by traditional leaders in Mimika Regency, such as Yance Yohanis Boyau (Chairman of the Forum Peduli Pemekaran), Toro Koyame (Action Coordinator), Karel Kum (Lemasa Figure), Lazarus Kobogau (Moni Tribe Community Leader), Adolof M. (Association Representative). North Sulawesi Family), Yulius Hagabal (Head of the Damal Tribe), Dercy Rumberi (Representative of the Saireri Tribe), M. Didie MS (Character of the United Java Family Harmony / KKJB), Zwingly Demena (Jayapura Extended Family Association), Ristam Kupak (Representative of People from Fak-Fak), Lalu Wijaya (Chairman of the Lombok Community Association), Frans Tumuka (Chairman of Yayasam Yuamako), Yulius Hagabal (Head of the Damal Tribe).

The article was translated from Pikiran-Rakyat.com's article titled "Elemen Masyarakat Adat Aspirasikan Pembentukan Provinsi Papua Tengah".