MERAUKE, SOUTH PAPUA – People in South Papua Province are urged not to be provoked by various influences in the political situation ahead of the 2024 Simultaneous Regional Head Elections.
This was expressed by the Chairman of the South Papuan People’s Assembly Damianus Katayu, especially in response to the rejection of the results of the plenary session of authenticity as Indigenous Papuans for four prospective pairs of candidates for Governor and Deputy Governor who will compete in the 2024 Regional Head Election which was not accepted by several parties in Merauke, South Papua.
For this reason, Damianus Katayu invites all parties, especially intellectuals, to read the mandate of the Special Autonomy Law properly so that there will be no misinterpretation.
The Papuan People’s Assembly has no other interest other than implementing the Special Autonomy Law Article 20 paragraph 1 related to consideration and approval, the South Papuan People’s Assembly has done according to the rules and regarding the authenticity of indigenous Papuans, Damianus Katayu emphasized that the South Papuan People’s Assembly does not have the capacity to interpret or analyze the law but the Papuan People’s Assembly only carries out the mandate of the Special Autonomy Law, “So we have no interest, our job is only to carry out the mandate of Special Autonomy, for those who are not satisfied with the Special Autonomy Law related to this technicality, please sue,” said Damianus Katayu.
The South Papuan People’s Assembly has carried out administrative and factual verification at eight points, the results were again discussed with experts and the Special Committee, the verification carried out was quite strict, even the prospective candidates were invited by the South Papuan People’s Assembly to present using the local language, both the genealogy of descent, territorial boundaries, and the origin of the clan, “And praise God it was well presented by the prospective candidate pairs which means that from the anthropological side it is quite strong and the results of factual verification in the field the parents in the field admit that it is their children,” said Damianus Katayu.
Therefore, Damianus Katayu said that rejection or debate about authenticity is part of the dynamics that must occur and must be understood, but the forum with the most votes has determined the results of the authenticity of the Candidates and has been submitted to the South Papua General Election Commission.