5 Jun 2015

Indonesian president to end transmigration to Papua

7:25 pm on 5 June 2015

Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has signalled an end to the country's transmigration programme to Papua region.

Transmigration programmes have been operating in Indonesia for decades, involving the relocation of landless people from densely populated areas to less populous parts of the country.

In Papua's case, transmigration has seen the region's indigenous Melanesian population gradually outnumbered.

Tempo reports that President Jokowi has linked the programme to social and economy dispute among the people of Papua.

A member of the Presidential Communication Team says the president has asked the governor of Papua to stop the transmigration because it will cause problems.

Jokowi has made several trips to Papua in the past year and has placed special emphasis on resolving social and development problems in Indonesia's eastern region.

A professor of Universitas Pertahanan, Salim Said says that Jokowi has a clear concept on how to solve things in Papua, which is by involving Papuans.

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