Maybrat, Jubi – Residents of Mare district in Maybrat regency, Southwest Papua province, are facing a range of challenges in accessing basic services, including clean water, teachers and healthcare workers, roads, telecommunications and health facilities.

Mare district comprises nine villages: Mahos, Suswa, Kombif, Bakrabi, Waban, Sawo, Narasi, Seya and Rufases.

The concerns were raised during a community consultation with Selly Kareth, a member of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) in Southwest Papua, on Monday (24/08/2026).

The meeting focused on planning, budgeting and the use of special autonomy funds, with the aim of ensuring they address the needs of communities in remote areas.

Kareth said the issues raised by residents should guide the government when setting development priorities and deciding how special autonomy funds are spent.

"These are basic needs that should be a priority. The government must take all of the concerns raised by residents seriously," she said.

She urged the Southwest Papua provincial government and Maybrat regency government to follow up on the community's concerns through concrete policies, planning, funding and development programs.

"These are not excessive demands. They are basic needs that the government must address," Kareth said.

Residents said poor road access was making it difficult to reach education and healthcare services and transport produce from their gardens to market.

They called on the government to ensure development reaches remote villages rather than being concentrated in urban areas.

"If roads are not properly developed, people will continue to face difficulties. Children will struggle to access education, sick people will struggle to reach healthcare, and local economic activity will be affected," Kareth said.

Residents also called for more teachers to be assigned to the area so children in remote villages could receive adequate education.

"We will take these concerns forward. The Southwest Papua provincial government and Maybrat regency government must take these issues seriously," Kareth said.

Meanwhile, Mare customary leader Leonardus Baru urged the provincial and regency governments to visit the nine villages and see first-hand the difficulties residents face in accessing basic services.

"For too long, Indigenous communities have raised the same concerns. The government comes, listens and takes notes, but people are left waiting without certainty. We need concrete action, clear funding and development that reaches our villages," Baru said.

He said Mare residents had the same rights as other Indonesians to access transport, education, healthcare and government services.

Without adequate roads, he asked, how could residents access government services, teachers reach schools, healthcare workers reach their posts, sick people get treatment or farmers transport their produce to market?

"Government development plans should not be made from the city alone. Come and see for yourselves how people are living in Mare," he said.

Baru urged the Southwest Papua governor and Maybrat regent to respond to the community's concerns with concrete programs and clear implementation timelines.

"We are not rejecting the government. We are reminding the government that Indigenous communities are still here and need the state's attention," he said.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/mare-residents-struggle-with-basic-services-and-infrastructure