Hence, we will ensure that the land acquisition process does not violate the rights of indigenous people, and for (addressing) some problems, the KSP also encourages the attorney's office to provide a legal opinionJakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Staff Office (KSP) emphasized that land acquisition for the Trans Papua road connecting the provinces of Papua and West Papua would not take away the rights of indigenous people in Papua.
Presidential Staff Office's (KSP's) Deputy I Febry Calvin Tetelepta stated that construction of the Trans Papua road was aimed at improving the welfare of Papuan people by increasing access and connectivity between regions.
"Hence, we will ensure that the land acquisition process does not violate the rights of indigenous people, and for (addressing) some problems, the KSP also encourages the attorney's office to provide a legal opinion," Tetelepta noted in an official statement on Wednesday.
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Based on the results of field verification and a coordination meeting with the Head of the National Road Development Center (BPJN) of the Ministry of the Public Works and Housing (PUPR) in Jayapura, the land acquisition process for the construction of the Trans Papua Road is in accordance with statutory regulations.
According to Calvin, the government commends the community territory rights. The principle of land acquisition in this project is compensation for profit, in accordance with President Jokowi's directives.
Through Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2020 on the Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua and West Papua Provinces, President Joko Widodo has emphasized his attention to infrastructure development in Papua and West Papua to boost economic growth in the land of Cendrawasih.
The Trans Papua Road is included as one of the National Strategic Projects (PSN) and the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
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This national road stretches for 3,421.34 km from Sorong City, West Papua, to Merauke, Papua. This road is divided into 2,350.72 km in Papua Province and 1,070.62 km in West Papua Province.
The Trans Papua development project is expected to become a node of the economic corridor in Papua that facilitates connectivity and access to cross-regional distribution of goods and services in Papua and West Papua.
Thus, it is expected to support equitable economic development and distribution of public services to remote areas of Papua and West Papua.
Febry is optimistic that the road, which is currently built and paved, would be used immediately as a logistics route from the port to the mountainous areas of Papua.
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Translator: Mentari D, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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