New autonomous regions are officially led by Apolo Safanpo who is rector of Cenderawasih University; Ribka Haluk who is the Head of the Office of Social Affairs, Population, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection of the Provincial Government of Papua; and Nikolaus Kondomo who is the Head of the Papua High Prosecutor's Office.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian inaugurated three new autonomous regions in Papua Island, namely South Papua Province, Central Papua Province and Papua Pegunungan Province, on Friday (11/11).

The inauguration of the three new autonomous regions was carried out at the Office of the Ministry of Home Affairs in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, the country’s Cabinet Secretariat said in an official statement received here on Saturday.

"Today, Friday, November 11, 2022, located in Jakarta, I, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Minister of Home Affairs, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Indonesia hereby inaugurate South Papua Province based on Law Number 14 of 2022, Central Papua Province based on Law Number 15 of 2022, and the Papua Pegunungan Province based on Law Number 16 of 2022," the Minister of Home Affairs stated.

The inauguration was marked by the beating of tifa (a musical instrument typical of eastern Indonesia, particularly from Maluku and Papua) by the Minister of Home Affairs together with Deputy Minister of Home Affairs John Wempi Wetipo and several other officials.

In this agenda, Tito also appointed three acting governors -- Apolo Safanpo as Acting Governor of South Papua, Ribka Haluk as Acting Governor of Central Papua, and Nikolaus Kondomo as Acting Governor of Papua Pegunungan.

The three acting governors have academic backgrounds and government officials.

Apolo Safanpo is the rector of the University of Cenderawasih (Uncen); Ribka Haluk is the Head of the Office of Social Affairs, Population, Women's Empowerment, and Child Protection of the Papua Provincial Government; and Nikolaus Kondomo is the Head of the Papua High Court.

The inauguration was carried out based on Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 115/P of 2022 which was stipulated on November 10, 2022. As stated in the Presidential Decree, each acting governor has a maximum term of one year.

The series of events for the inauguration of the three new autonomous regions were followed by the signing of the minutes of oaths/pledges of office and facts of integrity by each appointed official.

Reporting by Indonesia Window