A renewed political and grassroots push is gaining ground to establish North Papua Province, a proposed administrative region aimed at accelerating development and improving public services in the Saereri customary territory of Papua. Lawmakers and local leaders argue that the new province could bring governance closer to the people, addressing long-standing disparities in infrastructure and welfare.
The idea, long discussed in regional forums, has re-entered national focus following recent visits by lawmakers to Yapen Islands and Biak Numfor. Yan Permenas Mandenas, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) from the Gerindra Party, confirmed that the North Papua Province proposal has been included in the 2025 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list.
“This initiative is not only a political agenda—it is a cultural and economic necessity,” said Mandenas during a working visit to Kepulauan Yapen earlier this week. “We must align the state’s development roadmap with the aspirations of the indigenous Papuan people.”
Local Governments Prepare for Change
Biak Numfor Regent Herry Ario Naap and officials from nearby districts such as Supiori, Waropen, Nabire, and Yapen have also voiced strong support. Many of these areas are located in the Saereri customary region, which advocates say has been marginalized in previous provincial divisions.
The regent emphasized that Biak is preparing not just administratively, but also physically—with plans underway for government facilities and infrastructure to support the potential new provincial capital.
“The momentum is here. Just like the central highlands experienced growth after becoming their own province, we believe the Saereri region is ready for similar progress,” Naap said.
A Proposal Rooted in Papua’s Cultural Geography
The call for a North Papua Province is rooted in Papua’s seven traditional adat regions, which are socio-cultural and geographic groupings that predate Indonesia’s modern administrative boundaries. These are Tabi (Mamta), Saereri, Domberay, Bomberay, Ha Anim, La Pago, and Me Pago.
The proposed province would be centered around Saereri, a region known for its rich maritime culture, stretching across Biak, Supiori, Yapen, Waropen, and Nabire. Advocates argue that aligning provinces with adat boundaries could strengthen indigenous representation, cultural preservation, and governance.
“This is more than administrative convenience. It’s about honoring Papua’s own cultural map,” said Noak Krey, a prominent local leader who has long championed the North Papua idea. “It’s time the struggle for North Papua Province is revived in full.”
Promises and Challenges
Formation of the North Papua Province has several benefits:
- Improved public service delivery by reducing dependency on Jayapura
- Faster infrastructure development, especially in remote island and coastal areas
- Stronger protection of indigenous rights, via local MRP (Majelis Rakyat Papua) representation
- Boosting local economies, particularly maritime industries such as fisheries and seaweed farming
However, past experiences with provincial splits in Papua have raised valid concerns. Critics warn of potential bureaucratic inefficiencies, environmental exploitation, and the risk of increased tension among ethnic and tribal groups if not handled inclusively.
What’s Next?
According to Mandenas, the DPR’s Legislation Body (Baleg) is currently drafting the legislative framework. The bill would outline the province’s legal status, boundaries, transitional governance structure, funding sources, and election timeline.
Local governments are expected to submit formal readiness assessments and infrastructure inventories to Jakarta by the end of the year. Public consultations, including customary assemblies (musyawarah adat), are also being proposed to ensure the process respects indigenous law and community consensus.
A Turning Point for Coastal Papua?
The push for North Papua Province marks a pivotal chapter in Papua’s decentralization journey. While the creation of new provinces in 2022 for the central and highland regions stirred debate, this latest proposal appears to enjoy widespread support from local leaders, cultural elders, and lawmakers alike—especially those from Saereri.
Whether the proposal becomes law may depend not only on political will in Jakarta but also on how effectively local actors unite around a shared vision for self-determination, justice, and sustainable development in Tanah Papua.
“The question is not whether we need a North Papua Province,” Mandenas concluded. “The question is whether we are ready to implement it with integrity and for the genuine benefit of our people.”
Conclusion
The proposal to create North Papua Province represents a significant shift in how development and governance could be approached in Papua—by aligning administrative boundaries with customary (adat) regions, particularly the Saereri area. This initiative is seen as a way to bring the government closer to indigenous communities, improve public services, and boost the local economy, especially in coastal and island areas.
While it enjoys strong political and grassroots support, especially from lawmakers and regional leaders, the success of the proposal will depend on inclusive planning, legal clarity, and community consensus. Past experiences with province splits in Papua show that without careful implementation, such changes can lead to new challenges.
If managed well, the creation of North Papua Province could become a model of culturally grounded, community-driven development in Indonesia’s easternmost region. If not, it risks repeating the pitfalls of previous autonomy efforts. The coming months will be critical in determining whether this initiative moves from vision to reality.
