Appreciating the Collaboration between the Government and Indigenous Peoples to Realize Sustainable Development in Papua
By: Melky Tabuni )*
The government continues to show a strong commitment to realizing the aspirations of indigenous peoples in Papua through an inclusive and sustainable development approach. This effort is in line with the Golden Indonesia Vision 2045, where a unitary state that is united, sovereign, advanced and sustainable is the main target. Especially in Papua Province, the government has targeted various transformation steps as the key to successful development.
Irene Manibuy, Chair of the West Papua Special Autonomy Development Acceleration Steering Committee (BP3OKP), emphasized the importance of indigenous communities in this development process. He underlined that Papua’s future lies in the active participation of indigenous peoples in formulating development that suits local needs. According to him, Special Autonomy (Otsus) Volume II, which has been running for three years, provides greater space for the involvement of indigenous communities. No longer just distributing funds unilaterally, the Special Autonomy budget is now derived through a clear planning mechanism, where supervision is an important part of the process. This is a step forward in ensuring that development in West Papua is no longer dictated by the central government, but is truly rooted in the wishes of the people.
Manibuy also hopes that with the existence of BP3OKP, contributions from all stakeholders will be accepted with open arms. The involvement of thoughts from traditional leaders and the wider community will provide a positive color to efforts to accelerate development in Papua. This step is important in achieving Golden Papua 2041, where development is not only assessed from the physical side, but also from the preservation of local wisdom values which are part of the identity of indigenous communities.
Meanwhile, the Acting Governor of Papua, Ramses Limbong, emphasized that development in Papua must not forget the rights of indigenous peoples. According to Limbong, local culture and wisdom are an integral part of the identity of the Papuan people which must be protected and preserved. The regional government ensures that the development carried out is based on cultural values and does not harm indigenous communities. In this context, sustainable development must respect traditional lands and preserve nature which is the source of life for the community.
Apart from that, Limbong also ensured that regional governments were more active in increasing the political participation of indigenous communities in general elections, while ensuring neutrality and security during the process. Inclusive political participation is an important aspect in building a strong and sovereign Papua, where every element of society has a role in determining the future of the region.
In line with the spirit of protecting local wisdom and the rights of indigenous peoples, the West Papua Province Folklore Foundation (Bicara) believes that development in Papua must involve indigenous community groups in every development agenda. The founder of the Talk Foundation, Andi Sastra Beni Saragih, emphasized that indigenous peoples are social entities that have a strategic position in Papua’s development. Therefore, local governments must accommodate the aspirations of indigenous communities so that development is more inclusive and sustainable.
According to Andi, the land of Papua is closely related to culture and indigenous people. Therefore, the government needs to be reminded not to ignore issues relating to indigenous communities. The cultural dialogue that has been initiated by the Talk Foundation together with the Indonesian Partnership Partnership and the Ministry of Education and Culture is one step to ensure that the ideas and ideas of indigenous peoples remain part of future development policies.
Apart from that, the Limited Association for the Study and Empowerment of Indigenous Communities (Pt PPMA) Papua, in collaboration with the Sarmi Regency government, has carried out an evaluation of the Secure Indigenous Communities, Forests and Land of Papua (Amahuta) Program. This program aims to strengthen the role of indigenous communities in safeguarding their tenure rights to customary land, as well as ensuring that infrastructure development does not override the interests of indigenous communities.
In Sarmi Regency, the local government is also working to formulate regional regulations that recognize and protect customary law communities. According to the Head of the Regional Tourism Subdivision of the Sarmi Regional Development Planning Agency, Hendrik Sorondanya, these strategic steps are expected to improve the welfare of indigenous communities through better management of natural resources. The indigenous community in Sarmi, which consists of five large tribes, has great potential in the fields of fisheries, agriculture and tourism, which, if managed together, can increase regional independence and prosperity.
With various development programs involving indigenous peoples, both in West Papua and Papua as a whole, the government shows its seriousness in ensuring that sustainable development does not only focus on economic growth, but also maintains environmental sustainability and the social welfare of indigenous peoples. The active involvement of indigenous communities in every stage of development planning and implementation is the key to success in achieving the vision of Golden Papua 2041. Through synergy between the government, indigenous communities and various stakeholders, it is hoped that Papua will progress further without losing its rich cultural identity.
)* The author is a native Papuan student
