TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Papuan customary councils encoraged to develop their areas
The Jayapura regency administration, in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, is providing an opportunity to local customary councils to develop their respective areas
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
T
he Jayapura regency administration, in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, is providing an opportunity to local customary councils to develop their respective areas.
Assistant to the administration's regional secretary, Wiklif Yerisetouw, said a regional regulation on customary villages had been ratified, which would help clarify the role of the customary councils.
"The administration hopes that the development carried out by the customary councils will be in line with the existing conditions in the customary villages," Wiklif said in Sentani on Thursday as quoted by Antara news agency.
He also underlined the importance of customary communities in enhancing development and people's welfare in Jayapura. The locals need to be involved in the development to enable them to build a new Jayapura based on local wisdom.
He said the establishment of the customary councils in Jayapura was intended to help speed up development in Jayapura through synergy between the administration and local communities.
Head of the Moy Customary Council, Yohanes Kalvindone, welcomed the administration's initiative, saying it would help preserve the Papuan tradition of demu, where community elders gather to discuss the best interests of their villages.
"By doing this, the customary leaders will be able to unify and revive the existing customary capacities for the sake of and the welfare of the local communities," Yohanes said.
Previously, representatives of the Jayapura administration launched the chairmanship of the Moy Customary Council, which oversees a number of villages, including Sabron, Dosay, Waibron, Maribu, Kwantemei, Bonya and Kendate. (yln)
