Indonesia Establishes Three New Provinces in Papua

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s Lawmakers unanimously passed a set of laws during a plenary session on Thursday, June 30, requiring the establishment of the provinces of Central Papua, Papua Central Highlands, and South Papua.

Following the endorsement of the three bills, Indonesia now has a total of 37 provinces.
“We will ask each faction whether the bills on the formation of the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Central Highlands can be passed into law,” Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad told the participants.

When one of the lawmakers wanted to interrupt, Dasco said, “There will be an interruption later. We are still making decisions,” he said.

“We once again ask all members whether the bills on the formation of the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, and Papua Central Highlands can be approved into law?” Dasco asked.

“Agreed,” the House of Representatives replied.

It only took two and a half months for the lawmakers to create the three new provinces in Papua, starting from the time the House of Representatives Legislative Body (Baleg) initiated the deliberation of the three bills on April 12 this year.

Once the bill is signed by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, the next step will be the appointment of acting governors in the three new provinces.

The appointment of temporary governors will be under the purview of the ministry of home affairs.

The appointed officials will serve until a regional head is elected in the 2024 regional elections.

KOMPAS.COM/Roberthus Yewen A river in the Pomako Village in East Timika District, Mimika regency in Papua.

The ministry will inaugurate acting governors in the three provinces in August, followed by the formation of regional apparatus in each province no later than three months.