Policymakers press ahead with plan for another Papua province

Papuan students protest against the Indonesian government's plan to develop new administrative areas in the country's easternmost Papua province, in Malang, East Java on March 21, 2022. - AFP

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Lawmakers and the government are pushing to quickly pass legislation to create yet another new province in Papua at a coming plenary meeting of the House of Representatives despite pushback from experts and activists.

Policymakers aim to bring a bill that will split West Papua province into two new administrations, via the creation of Southwest Papua province, to a plenary session as soon as possible although they have yet to decide when.