History of Sorong City

Sorong City is an integral part of the West Papua Province which consists of 12 Regencies and 1 City.

The name Sorong comes from the word SOREN which comes from the Biak Numfor language which means the Deepest and Wavy Sea, the word SOREN was first used by the Biak Numfor tribe who sailed in ancient times with sailing boats from one island to another so that they arrived and settled on the island. Raja Ampat Islands.

It was the Biak Numfor tribe who gave the name of the land of maladum as SOREN which was then pronounced by Chinese traders, missionaries from Europe, Maluku and Sangihe, although it was called Sorong.

In 1983, the Regional Government at that time under the leadership of the Regent of Sorong, Lieutenant Colonel Laut Sutaji and the Chairman of the Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) of Sorong Regency, Mr. Yulianus Sesa and all the people of Sorong Regency, took the initiative to propose to the Central Government through the Governor of Irian Jaya, which at that time was held by the Governor of Irian Jaya. Mr. Acub Zainal, so that Sorong District becomes the capital city of Sorong Regency.

The status of Sorong is upgraded to an Administrative City and as a result, Government Regulation Number 31 of 1996 was issued in 1996 concerning the Establishment of the Sorong Administrative City and on June 3, 1996 the Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Yogi S. Memet on behalf of the President of the Republic of Indonesia inaugurated the Administrative City of Sorong.

In the subsequent development of government administration based on the Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 45 of 1999, the Administrative City of Sorong was upgraded to an Autonomous City, namely Sorong City, and on October 21, 1999 located in Jakarta, the inauguration of the Acting Mayor of Sorong, namely Drs. J. A. Jumame, hereinafter referred to as Sorong City, was separated from the main regency, namely Sorong Regency.

Based on the Government Regulation, taking place in front of the terrace of the Mayor’s Office of Sorong, the inauguration of Drs. J. A. Jumame as Acting Administrative Mayor of Sorong by the Minister of Home Affairs at that time Mr. Yogi S. Memet on behalf of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

With the formation of the Sorong Administrative City organization, which consists of Sub-Services and Sub-Divisions in accordance with applicable staffing provisions, since then the Sorong Administrative City Government has worked with the main task of handling the cleanliness, beauty, security, and orderliness of the City of Sorong.

Along with the fresh winds of reformation, through Law Number 22 of 1999 and with strong determination and enthusiasm, it was proposed to increase the status of the Administrative City (Kotif) to become the Municipality of Sorong, which was supported by the political aspirations of the Irian Jaya Provincial DPRD.

The dreams and hopes of Sorong City later became a reality, namely with the issuance of Law Number 45 of 1999 concerning the establishment of several Provinces and Regencies/Cities in Irian Jaya Province including Sorong City as a Fully Autonomous Region consisting of 2 (two) Districts and 9 nine) Village.

On October 12, 1999, in the Plaza building of the Department of Home Affairs (DEPDAGRI) Jakarta, a ceremony was held to inaugurate the formation of the new regions which included Provinces, Regencies and Cities in Indonesia, including Sorong City. On that occasion, the Governors, Regents, and Mayors were also inaugurated by the Minister of Home Affairs at that time Syarwan Hamid on behalf of the President of the Republic of Indonesia.

The period from October 1999 to February 2000 was a very valuable time for the mayor of Sorong, even though with minimal support for personnel, funding, facilities and infrastructure and documents (P3D), he had to work hard in government administration, development implementation, and coaching. an autonomous community through the formation of institutions by optimizing the existing P3D.

Finally, the efforts and hard work in this transitional period brought about a historic event on February 28, 2000, namely the inauguration and establishment of the Sorong City Regional Government institutions by the Deputy Governor of Region III of Irian Jaya Province, which at that time was held by Marine Brigadier General Abraham Octavianus Atururi.

Furthermore, on the same occasion the Sorong Mayoral Officer inaugurated Echelon II, III, and IV Structural Officials within the Sorong City Government and on that occasion the Sorong Mayor delivered a speech for the first time.

In his capacity as the Mayoral Officer, he delivered a political statement that was used as the moment of Sorong City’s Birthday, namely that the Sorong City Government organization which had just been inaugurated and Echelon II, III, and IV structural officials who had just been inaugurated were responsible for administering the government, implementing development, and fostering the life of the people of Sorong City separately from the Main District.

Subsequently, in February 2001, the election of the first Mayor and Deputy Mayor and Drs. J. A. Jumame and Hengky Rumbiak were elected as Mayors and Deputy Mayors of Sorong for the first period 2001 – 2006, which were then inaugurated and taken by the Governor of Papua Province at that time, namely Drs. Yaap Salossa, M.Si on behalf of the Minister of Home Affairs.

Source: Sorongkota.go.id