Merauke Residents Spread Red and White Flag to Welcome South Papua Province

The people of Merauke unfurled gigantic Red and White Flag to welcome the New Autonomous Region (DOB) of South Papua Province in the courtyard of the Merauke Regent's Office, Thursday 30 June 2022.

Welcoming the Province of South Papua in the new Capital of Merauke (photo: Suara Merauke)

In addition to the unfurling of the Red and White Flag, the people of Merauke also held a prayer together in the courtyard of the Sacred Heart Statue and the Merauke Regent's Office. This joint prayer is a form of gratitude for the presence of a new province in the south of Papua.

The Coordinator of the Flag Lifting Action, Randika said, today is a historic day for the people of South Papua, because the struggle of 20 years ago has been answered.

“People in four regencies, Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi and Asmat today should be grateful. As a thank you to the government, we spread the 75-meter-long Red and White Flag, as proof of the presence of the Republic of Indonesia," said Randika.

The End of 20 Years of Waiting for South Papuans

Meanwhile, the leader of the Asmat Customary Council (LMA), Nicolaus Ndepi, was touched by the passing of the Draft Law on the Province of South Papua.

“The 20-year struggle has finally come true. This is the result of our long struggle, so that we can be independent and stand on our own ground,” said Nicolaus.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Asmat Regent, Elisa Kambu and the Deputy Regent of Asmat, Thomas Eppe Safanpo, who for three years have been the driving force in fighting for the division of South Papua.

Johanes Gluba Gebze.

Thursday (30/6/2022) is a historic and auspicious day for the people of South Papua in four regencies, namely Merauke, Mappi, Asmat and Boven Digoel. On this historic day, the central government through the DPR RI has ratified the Law on the Expansion of the South Papua Province (PPS) after 20 years of waiting.

The figure who initiated the expansion of the PPS, Johanes Gluba Gebze or who is familiarly called JGG, welcomed this historic day with a prayer to God who had determined and decided the time for the expansion of the southern region. For him, everything that happens is due to God's intervention, so it is appropriate to give thanks in advance to God for the goodness that has been bestowed on the people of the south.

Don't forget to say thank you to the President and DPR RI and all parties who have helped make the ideals a success until the formation of the Province of South Papua.

The initiator of the expansion of the South Papua Province, Johanes Gluba Gebze.(photo: Suara Merauke)

"Thank you to Mr. President who has sent down Surprise, and many parties that I cannot mention, you are good people who God used to realize the hopes of our struggle until it is today on historic Thursday, historic 30 and historic 2022," said JGG in City Park Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mopah Airport after praying together.

Today, JGG continued, is not the end point of the party, but requires good preparation from all elements and regional heads from four districts and six tribes in Southern Papua to immediately negotiate the next step so that there is no question of South Papua for Whom.

The government guides were asked to immediately hold a meeting by putting aside selfishness, but to act as people who were given the mandate to jointly build the southern country with a clear concept.

"Thanks to the mother province, we are ready to stand alone. It's not that we hate the mother province, but this land is too large, there is no super power human who will make Papua great, unless we divide this land so we can manage it well -good and we can compete, who is better," said JGG.

It is highly hoped that the presence of PPS as a vehicle that brings change to create opportunities for southern people to grow, advance and develop on a par with other regions in the future.

Kandara Scooter Merauke

On the same day, a giant red and white flag with an area of ​​75x10 meters was stretched in the Merauke Regent's Office Courtyard and a banner with the words Welcome to South Papua Province was stretched by community representatives and Kandara Scooter Merauke.

The collaboration of the 75x10 meter red and white flag was welcomed by South Papua Province at the Merauke Regent's Office Courtyard.

"The unfurling of the red and white flag is an expression of joy that a very historic event that has been awaited for 20 years has come true," said the Secretary of the Merauke Region, Ruslan Ramli.

The collaboration of the 75x10 meter red and white flag was welcomed by South Papua Province at the Merauke Regent's Office Courtyard (photo: Suara Merauke)

The local people also expressed their gratitude and gratitude for the presence of this new province. "We welcome the Province of South Papua together with the people in this area. We are here this afternoon with the hope that in the future PPS can be built, both from customs, churches and the government," asked Albertus Maiwa, a representative of indigenous Papuans from the RI-PNG border. .

PPS was a huge gift for the four districts and the euphoria of the welcome was marked by the unfurling of the flag. "We welcome the ratification of the PPS Law by unfurling a giant flag. With PPS, we hope that there will be an increase in the economy and equitable development in all fields," said Chairman of the Kandara Scooter Club, Slamet Hariyadi.

Source: 

Kabar Papua

Suara Merauke