Head of the Center for Research, Case Review, and Library Management Kurniasih Panti Rahayu opening a constitution village forum group discussion, Thursday (7/6/2023) in Merauke, South Papua. Photo by MKRI/Ifa.

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WASUR (MKRI) — The Constitutional Court (MK) held a focus group discussion on “The Development of Tourism Potential in the First Constitution Village of Wasur, Merauke, Papua” on Thursday afternoon, July 6, 2023. The event was a collaboration between the Constitutional Court and the Faculty of Law of Musamus University. It was opened by the head of the Center for Research, Case Review, and Library Management Kurniasih Panti Rahayu and attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Law of Musamus University Mulyadi Alrianto Tajuddin.

Starting her opening remarks, Ayu said that this discussion was part of the Wasur Kampung Constitution Festival 2023. In addition, it was part of the Court’s commitment and responsibility after 10 years ago on March 9, 2013, along with Musamus University, it inaugurated Wasur Village as a Pancasila and constitution village.

“The organization and theme of this discussion is the initiative of our colleagues in Wasur Village after seeing facts, realities, and potentials as well as existing challenges. The initiative was then responded so it could be facilitated by the Court,” she said.

Ayu believed the potential and constraints to develop tourism potential in Wasur Village needed to be synchronized, viewed, and examined from various perspectives, especially the perspectives of Wasur Village stakeholders.

“The various perspectives, whether juridical, customary and cultural, academic, practical, environmental, and other perspectives by various stakeholder are what in today’s discussion, what we want to know, we explore, we inventory, and we discuss together objectively,” She said.

In addition, she explained, Wasur Village is one of five villages, kampong, or nagari that were confirmed by the Constitutional Court as constitutional villages. The other four are Galesong Village in Takalar Regency, South Sulawesi; Bangbang Village in Bangli Regency, Bali; Nagari Lasia Laweh in Agam Regency, West Sumatra; and Mekar Sari Village, in Kubu Raya Regency in West Kalimantan.

She hoped that this discussion would be a good start to facilitate the wishes or aspirations of the Wasur Village community as a constitution village to develop tourism potential in their area. “At least after listening and having discussions on various discourses or perspectives, so that the points that need attention and follow-up can be pursued jointly, synergistically, and collaboratively by the stakeholders,” she mentioned.

Focus Group Discussion

In the first session of the discussion, a representative of Wasur Village, Agustinus Mahuze, said that Wasur Village has potential that could be developed by connecting to the Court. He hoped that the direction of change in Wasur Village would continue to improve.

He also said that since 2020, his team had been working on tourism potential, that the development was carried out by conducting various observations and discussions. “So, there are notes that can be used as a scheme so that policies can be supported,” he said.

The same thing was said by the head of Wasur Village, Dominggus Bakap, who said that Wasur Village is a unique administrative area. This is because it is located in a national park where there is a protected area.

The customary chief of Galesong Village, Aminuddin Salle, explained that Galesong Village, apart from being designated as a constitution village recently, was also designated as a tourism village. “We are very proud of this designation because our village is listed as the 75 best villages in Indonesia. Seven of the best villages in South Sulawesi. Actually, I shouldn’t be here because today the regent and others gathered to discuss the event on Saturday and Sunday that the Minister of Tourism will visit to check the Pancasila and Constitution Village Galesong,” Aminuddin explained.

The FGD was one of a series of events of the Wasur Constitution Village Festival taking place from Thursday to Saturday, July 6-8, 2023. A number of series of events were held, including small and medium enterprises (UMKM) exhibitions, cultural exhibition, and constitution awareness competitions; national seminars at which constitutional justices will speak; and Wasur Village cultural exhibition. (*)

Author       : Utami Argawati
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Tahlitha Laela/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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