JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government received a visit from the Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the Head of the Japanese Government's War Remains Recovery Team at the Papua Governor's Office in Jayapura on Monday (August 3, 2026).

The meeting discussed the continuation of Indonesia–Japan cooperation in the identification and repatriation of the remains of World War II victims discovered in several areas across Papua.

Acting Regional Secretary of Papua Province, L. Christian Sohilait, said that the Papua Provincial Government welcomed the cooperation as a reflection of the close humanitarian ties and friendship that have long existed between Indonesia and Japan.

The Acting Regional Secretary emphasized that the Papua Provincial Government is ready to facilitate coordination with regency governments and local communities to ensure the smooth implementation of excavation and sample collection activities. He also expressed hope that the cooperation would create added value for Papua through the development of peace memorial sites with historical, educational, and tourism significance.

"We fully support the implementation of this program and hope that its benefits will be felt not only in humanitarian terms but also in supporting regional development," he said.

Director of Cultural Diplomacy at the Indonesian Ministry of Culture, Raden Usman Effendi, explained that since 2024, a joint team has conducted surveys, excavations, and sample collection involving the remains of 59 individuals discovered in Biak Numfor, Supiori, and Sarmi.

All samples will be identified through DNA analysis at Airlangga University before the repatriation process to Japan.

"The success of this program would not have been possible without the support of the Papua Provincial Government and local communities, which have continued to support every stage of the activities," he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Japanese Government's War Remains Recovery Team, Mr. Okamoto, expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and support provided by the Papua Provincial Government and local communities.

According to him, the ongoing cooperation serves as a positive example of humanitarian collaboration between Indonesia and Japan. He noted that similar programs are also being carried out in various countries around the world.

"We are deeply grateful for the support that has been provided and hope that this cooperation will continue to honor the victims of war while further strengthening the friendship between our two countries," Okamoto said.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Papua Provincial Government, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, the Japanese Government's War Remains Recovery Team, and relevant regional agencies.

All participants agreed to strengthen coordination to support the smooth implementation of the identification and repatriation process for the remains of World War II victims, while also strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and Japan in the fields of humanitarian affairs and historical preservation. ***