West Papua is a rich mix of reefs and rainforest – some of the most beautiful environments on the planet – thecoraltriangle.com/Diana Himmelspach
Jayapura, Jubi – Natural resources and the division of region considered behind a reason why some district governments claim on territories of other district administrations, stated a member of the Commission I of Government, Politics, Law and Human Rights of the Papuan House of Representatives Yonas Nussy on Thursday (11/10/2018).
“Governments have their administrative territories, while indigenous peoples have customary territories (land tenure rights). Sometimes conflicts occur when other parties claim on someone else’s land despite that the customary landowners know exactly the border of their lands,” said Nusy.
Therefore, he said, the borders of villages, sub-districts, districts and provinces should be managed by involving many relevant parties to avoid this sort of problems in the future.
Furthermore, he said the Commission I of the Papuan House of Representatives plans to invite some government agencies and other relevant parties to discuss some actions to address the territorial issues in Papua.
“The provincial border of Papua and West Papua should be an issue that needs to be emphasized,” he said.
He hopes that both provincial and regional (municipal) governments will take seriously in addressing the problems associated with the territorial border because some conflicts are assumed to follow.
A few days ago, some groups from Mamberamo Raya (Mambra) District protested that some areas of their district allegedly annexed to the neighbouring district because of its gold potency.
The Secretary of Mamberamo Apawer Indigenous Peoples Council Marthen NK Tukeji said the areas annexed are namely Kordesi, Dopo, Turere, Degey, Darpos and Dou.
“It similarly happens to other sub-districts of Taiyeve and Taria. We hope the Papuan House of Representative, Papuan People’s Assembly as well as the Papuan Provincial Government could pay attention to this problem,” said Marthen NK Tukeji on Tuesday (10/09/2018). (*)
Reporter: Arjuna Pademme
Editor: Pipit Maizier
