PMII urges govt to settle Papua

jakarta, NU Online
The Executive Board of the Indonesian Islamic Students Movement (PMII) in its National Leadership Meeting (Muspimnas) which will be held on December 11 to 18 in Papua will urge the Indonesian government to earnestly resolve the issues that make the indigenous Papuans feel that they have been unfairly treated and marginalized.<>

"We urge the SBY's government to seriously resolve any problems that exist in Papua," said chairman of the organizing committee, Sabarudin Rery in a release sent to NU Online, Monday (10/12).

He explained, the province of West Papua was ranked first as the poorest province in Indonesia, saying the new province has poverty rate around 36.80% of the total population of about 770 thousand people. In the second place is Papua bordering with neighboring Papua New Guinea which has poverty rate about 35% of the total 2.8 million population.

"There were several factors making Papua still has a high poverty rate due to the inability of the central and local governments to manage their administration. then the factor of connectivity, Papua is still quite difficult to be reached, "said Sabarudin.

Geographically, the region is the area adjacent to the eastern part of Papua New Guinea and dealing directly with Asia Pacific, which becomes the center of world trade traffic.

"The existence of Papua as Indonesia's most Eastern part is very strategic to boost the nation's economy in addition to keeping the defense and integrity of the Unitary State of RI (NKRI)," he said.

Papua province must establish an innovation centre to develop its potential.

Papua has enormous natural resources that can be converted into profitable commodities. However, the area still lacks in technological innovation and skilled human resources that can boost the economical value of local products.

Writer : Hamzah Sahal
Editor : Sudarto Murtaufiq