Manokwari, April 29 -- Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Jhon Wempi Wetipo instructed the West Papua provincial government to prepare the budget required for conducting a census on indigenous Papuan people in the province.

Wetipo gave the directive during the 2024 Regional Development Planning Meeting of West Papua Province in Manokwari on Monday.

"The provincial government must ready the budget, so that the census on indigenous Papuans can run successfully," he remarked.

Wetipo explained that the census is held to collect accurate and valid data on the exact number of indigenous Papuan people residing in seven districts of West Papua, namely Manokwari, South Manokwari, Arfak Mountains, Bintuni Bay, Wondama Bay, Kaimana, and Fakfak.

"Da...