By : Viktor Worabay Teka )*
Concrete evidence that Papua is an integral and inseparable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI), is related to the attitude of the Government which continues to be present, even directly, to ensure that development continues very well and can be felt directly by the community.
The government continues to monitor the sustainability of the development program which has been running very well. This is to ensure that the benefits of the programs that are underway can really be felt directly by the community, including in Papua.
The government’s great attention to all people in Papua is also clear evidence that this region is indeed an integral part that cannot be separated from the Republic of Indonesia.
One form of supervision is by directly monitoring development in Papua through working visits. The direct presence of the government, through the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia (Wapres RI), KH Ma’ruf Amin in Bumi Cenderawasih from 3 to 7 June 2024 to ensure that the Master Plan for the Acceleration of Development for Papua (RIPPP) and also the Action Plan for the Acceleration of Development for Papua (RAPPP) able to run well.
No half-hearted, in fact, real evidence of the government’s attention was manifested in the direct presence of the Vice President during his working visits, which have been to the easternmost province of the country six times.
Special Staff to the Vice President for Communication and Information, Masduki Baidlowi, said that the sixth visit by KH Ma’ruf Amin was also aimed at completing the remaining provinces in the Papua region that had not yet been visited.
Of course, the direct working visit is also part of the government’s real efforts to continue to encourage the acceleration of development and improve the welfare of the Papuan people.
The Vice President really wants to ensure that RIPPP and RAPPP are implemented as well as possible and have a positive impact on indigenous Papuans (OAP). The working visit can also have an impact on the people of Bumi Cenderawasih in various other aspects, including infrastructure development, community empowerment and improving the local economy as a high commitment to supporting accelerated development there.
The direct presence of the Government through the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia in the field is a real manifestation of the state’s presence in society. So the government really wants to see the real problems that the Papuan people are experiencing and then be able to provide concrete solutions effectively.
Likewise, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also has a very strong commitment to developing Papua in a much more comprehensive manner. In fact, the existence of the Special Autonomy (Otsus) policy and the formation of regional expansion through the realization of the New Autonomous Region (DOB) for Papua continues to be consulted by the government with all components of local society.
Consultations that invite the active involvement of residents are very important because there traditional leaders, community leaders and religious leaders express their opinions and talk about good development steps. So that in this way, the government is able to formulate the best policy and make the people of Bumi Cenderawasih more advanced and prosperous.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri) John Wempi Wetipo said that the development carried out by the government in all provinces in Papua without exception, is a form of carrying out regulatory mandates relating to new autonomous regions.
It is not surprising why the intensity of visits by the President or Vice President directly to Bumi Cenderawasih is so high because the existence of Papua within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia has also been firmly stated in various international decisions, including the United Nations (UN) decision which states that that the status of Bumi Cenderawasih as part of Indonesia is final.
Over the last few years, especially during the era of President Jokowi’s leadership, development in Papua has shown very significant progress. In fact, various kinds of infrastructure projects have been carried out very well, including the construction of roads, bridges, health facilities and education.
This change is very visible, especially when compared to previous years in Papua, which shows that there has been an increase in the quality of life and accessibility for the local community.
The success of the many programs taking place in Bumi Cenderawasih shows the seriousness of the Indonesian Government in making Papua a top priority region to continue to accelerate development, not only physically or infrastructurally, but also in human resource (HR) development.
For example, some concrete things that the government is implementing in Papua are infrastructure programs such as the construction of the Trans Papua road which connects various cities and villages there, to facilitate mobility and economic access for local communities. There is also human resource development, including scholarship programs and improving the quality of education which aims to create competent human resources in Papua.
All of these things are certainly indisputable evidence that Papua is an integral part that cannot be separated from the Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, the Government continues to be present, even directly, to ensure the continuity of development programs that are running well there.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Bali
