Special Autonomy Brought Radical Changes To Papua
By: Achmad Faisal (Master's Degree of Law Student)
" Special Autonomy brought radical changes to Papua. Special Autonomy has provided protection for the empowerment of indigenous Papuans." (Deputy Chairperson of the 2001 Papua Special Autonomy Team Stering Committee)
The journey of
special autonomy in Papua has been going on for 20 years. During the last 20
years, the government has disbursed special autonomy funds of up to Rp. 101.2
trillion. There is an allocation of Fund Transfer and Village Funds (TKDD) from
2005 to 2021 reaching Rp. 702.3 trillion. Meanwhile, spending by ministries /
agencies in the Papua region is Rp. 251.29 trillion. Thus the total central
government funds for Papua and West Papua for the period 2002-2021 reached Rp.
138.65 trillion.
The number is
quite fantastic. Given that only two provinces are financed in the Special
Autonomy budget. However, looking at the facts on the ground, the Special
Autonomy Fund has brought the lives of Indigenous Papuans to a more advanced
level.
Through thr
special autonomy, special affirmative rights for Papauans to obtain the right
to health, education, economic welfare, to become the main leader in
government, employment, and infrastructure development services are fulfilled.
Deputy Chairperson
of the 2001 Papua Special Autonomy Compilation Team Stering Committee said, Special
Autonomy brought radical changes to Papua. It has provided protection for the
empowerment of Papuan People. This is because special autonomy was prepared by
a Papuan group that was smart and in accordance with the needs of the times.
Due to the large
authority given by the government to ppauan People in managing government,
education, economy, and health. Special Autonomy brings Papua out of poverty,
underdevelopment and discrimination.
Deputy Minister of
Public Works and Public Housing, John Wempi Wetipo added, Special Autonomy was
born so that Papuans become masters in their own regions. In the era of
President Joko Widodo, a number of breakthroughs were made, such as
infrastructure connectivity. If there are those who say that Special autonomy
has failed, it must be looked at carefully.
According to
Wempi, the failure was not in the special autonomy programm, but on regional
officials who were not transparent. Apart from that, regional officials also
cannot implement it.
Wempi's statement
was shared by a senior Papuan figure, Fredy Numbery. Fredy considered the
concept and policy of Special Autonomy to be a great step taken by the state
for Papua. Of course, this must be followed by good bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, member
of Commission IV of the Papua People's Representative Council, Boy Markus
Dawir, stated that the implementation of the Special Autonomy Law in Papua has
been successful. He gave an example in the field of education, where there are
thousands of indigenous Papuan children who have been sent to schools abroad,
such as to Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, America, Germany, Japan,
China and Africa.
In addition to
education, the Special Autonomy funds also flow for religious activities, such
as to Church Synods, pastors, regents and mayors, which have intensive
religious and educational programs, including health.
The evaluation of Special
Autonomy’s success in Papua has also come from traditional leaders in the
coastal and mountainous areas of Papua. Traditional leaders say that the
program has increased development in Papua.
Sosiri Tribe
Chief, Boas Asa Enoch said, special autonomy improves infrastructure in Papua.
For example, transportation facilities in the land, sea and air transportation
sector. The facilities are six airports consisting of Ewer Airport, Kepi
Airport, Ilaga Airport, Oksibil Airport, Nabire Baru Airport, Mopah Airport in
Merauke and improvements to Sentani Airport.
Another proof of
the success of the special autonomy, is the Trans Papua road. In this way, the
prices of basic necessities will become cheaper.
The community
leader in the mountains of Papua, David Hubi, added that special autonomy is
needed for development in the central highlands of Papua, which is still left
behind. Thus, he said that if anyone rejected this special autonomy, it was a
mistake.
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