By: Moses Waker) *
The development of Papua is one of the priority programs of the Jokowi-Ma’ruf Government. It is believed that various national programs that are currently being intensively implemented are able to advance and improve the welfare of the Papuan people.
Papua is an area that has become part of Indonesia and has been recognized both de jure and de facto. The issue of colonialism in Papua, which is echoed by activists and supporters of West Papuan independence such as the ULMWP, is believed to have no significant effect.
This is because almost all countries in the world recognize Papua as an integral part of Indonesia.
On the occasion of the Webinar of the Amerop Team in Collaboration with the European Association for Advanced Indonesia (PETJ), Papuan Youth Leader Izak R Hiyokabi assessed that there are several things in the change of Papuan society.
One of them is the breadth of budget management for the Papuan Government. Namely the existence of a special autonomy fund for Papua from the beginning until 2020 worth IDR 126.99 trillion. Although there is a need for a thorough evaluation of this large budget.
Izak said that Jokowi’s move was considered effective by taking a dialogue approach to unravel the problem and at the same time formulate alternative solutions. He added that it is no less important to continue implementing previous policies, such as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who put forward a welfare approach rather than a security approach.
According to him, national integration and NKRI is a non-existent foundation that is built on welfare and justice above a legal system that respects the socio-cultural context.
Izak said that the arrival of President Jokowi to Papua could reach more than 15 times. This kind of communication certainly deserves appreciation. Especially with the issuance of Presidential Instruction number 9 of 2020 concerning the acceleration of the development of the welfare of Papua and West Papua Provinces. Presidential Decree number 20 of 2020 concerning an integrated Coordination Team for the acceleration of development in Papua and West Papua Provinces.
This strategic step seems to have brought progress to Papua, such as infrastructure, education, social, economic and others.
The Papua Special Autonomy Fund has had a significant positive impact. Both in the political, social, economic and other fields. Even so, the Otsus fund must be evaluated. Papuan children must be given the widest possible opportunity in the field of education to build a better Papua.
On a different occasion, Deputy Minister of Villages for Disadvantaged Areas and Transmigration (Wamendes PDTT) Budi Arie Setiadi said that President Joko Widodo paid great attention to Papua and West Papua.
He conveyed this when he opened the socialization of Permendesa No.13 of 2020 on the priority of using village funds in 2021 at Swiss-Belhotel Sorong in November 2020.
According to him, one of President Jokowi’s concerns in distributing equity throughout Indonesia is manifested in village funds allocated specifically in the state budget.
Village funds were first disbursed in 2015 with a total budget of IDR 20.76 trillion. Village funds continue to increase from year to year, in 2021, the budget for funds to be disbursed will reach IDR 72 trillion.
Since the opportunity has been given through village funds, of course this should be able to be utilized by all villages in Indonesia. He hopes that villages in West Papua can be moved to become part of developed countries.
Apart from village funds, another form of attention from the President is related to the internet or digital infrastructure. In Indonesia alone there are more than 12,000 villages in Indonesia that do not have internet access and the majority are in eastern Indonesia.
When Jokowi got the data, on the occasion of the limited meeting, the cabinet of the former Surakarta mayor had assigned the Ministry of Communication and Information. Where in 2022, Jokowi asked all villages in Indonesia to have internet access.
Physically, road construction continues to increase the length of roads in Papua. At present, roads in Papua include national roads 2,636.73 kilometers, provincial roads 2,361.76 kilometers, district / city roads 2,636.73 kilometers. The construction of this road is intended to facilitate access to transportation and economic activities in Papua. In addition, this road access also aims to reduce the price of basic commodities.
Progress in Papua is one indicator of the successful achievement of an Indonesia-centric-oriented government development. Of course, this progress must be in line between facilities and human resources.
This progress can be seen from the number of Papuan youths who can get education up to tertiary institutions both in Indonesia and abroad.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Bali