Vice Minister of Home Affairs, John Wempi Wetipo invited all elements of society in the Greater Sorong area to work together to support the preparations for the inauguration of Southwest Papua Province. Wempi stated that his party, representing the central government, said they were proud to be present in front of the whole community.
“These are the result of all our prayers and struggles, to make the Southwest Papua Province to be ratified by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on November 17, 2022. We should be proud, and now we should take care the child of our struggles (Southwest Papua Province) very well,” said Wempi during his visit with Members of Commission II DPR RI and Committee I DPD RI in Preparation for the Implementation of the Regional Government of Southwest Papua Province at the Drs. Ec. L. Jitmau, MM Building, Sorong City, Monday (11/21).
He continued the momentum of that expansion was an important step. Because it is an opportunity for Indigenous Papuans to become more empowered on their own land. Apart from that, he hopes that withthe birth of the special autonomy policy, the Papuapns who want to become their own masters in their own land can be truly realized.
Wempi encourages various parties to work together to be able to elevate the dignity of Papuans. Wempi does not deny that the birth of the Southwest Papua Province was a challenge in itself. But he believes, with new enthusiasm and thorough hard work, the hope that Papuans can live a better life can be realized.
He added that the Ministry of Home Affairs is also committed to accelerating the inauguration of the Southwest Papua Province and preparations for the inauguration of the Acting Governor. One of these efforts is by forming a team that focuses on preparing the new province.
“Well, I hope that this process that we are working on, what we are currently going through, can quickly realize what you want (prosperity for Southwest Papua Province),” he concluded.
The meeting was attended by a number of parties including Member of Commission II DPR RI Komarudin Watubun, Deputy Chairperson II of Committee I DPD RI Filep Wafatma, and Acting Governor of West Papua Paulus Waterpauw. In addition, there are also Lambertus Jitmau, Chairman of the Team for the Acceleration of Expansion of the New Autonomous Region of Southwest Papua, Acting Mayor of Sorong George Yarangga, Regents of Sorong Raya, regional Leadership Coordination Forum, and the community.