Indonesia's plan to create new eastern provinces unviable, says Papua governor

Papua Governor Lukas Enembe speaks next to the Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid during a meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 27, 2022. - Reuters

JAKARTA, May 28 (Reuters): Indonesia's plan to create new provinces in its impoverished eastern region of Papua has not been adequately discussed with the local population and is unviable, its governor said.

Lawmakers announced in April that parliament would deliberate adding three new provinces in the territory, bringing the total to five. The announcement sparked protests from Papuans in several cities over what they see as the central government's encroachment into the resource-rich region.