Deputy Minister Advancing Papua’s Growth Through Ethnoscience Principles

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian Deputy Minister of Human Rights, Mugiyanto, emphasized the importance of ethnoscience-based development in Papua. This approach integrates local knowledge with modern technology.

"We are talking about developing Papua without uprooting it. Papua is not empty land, it is a home to hundreds of civilizations," Mugiyanto said in a press statement in Jakarta on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

He said that Papua is home to 301 tribes and 428 regional languages that preserve local knowledge tested over hundreds of years. He added that Papuan ethnoscience covers various fields, including agriculture, health, and environmental management.

"This is not ancient knowledge. This is empirical data tested over hundreds of years. When we ignore it, we throw away solutions that are affordable, effective, and accepted by the community," he said.

He cited local Papuan practices, such as Dani irrigation, Asmat Marind sago management, and customary maritime law, as examples. He believes that development approaches which disregard this knowledge are often ineffective.

"Development that does not recognize ethnoscience risks violating human rights principles. Conversely, embracing ethnoscience will strengthen social cohesion and public trust," he emphasized.

He urged Papuan development to celebrate local cultural diversity rather than standardize. "Let's build Papua by celebrating its diversity through down-to-earth innovations born from the land," he said. (Misni Parjiati/EN)