By : Moses Waker )*
It is rumored that the division of Papua or what is often called the New Autonomous Region (DOB) of Papua will be accelerated. The relevant ministries have prepared a scheme to then socialize it to the public.
The development of the 4 new autonomous regions in Papua is a concrete step from the government to develop Papua. In order to accelerate this event, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) held a joint meeting with the Ministry of PUPR and the Ministry of Finance to discuss follow-up actions to accelerate infrastructure development in 4 new autonomous regions in Papua. The meeting was chaired directly by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, John Wempi Wetipo, in the meeting room of the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Jakarta. The meeting was held on Tuesday 20 June 2023.
During the meeting, John said that his party was also coordinating with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing and the Ministry of Finance for funding readiness through the state budget and needed data from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing regarding the details of the implementation of activities in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years. Inter-ministerial coordination certainly needs to be carried out because in its development it requires a multi-sectoral role both from the ministries as well as institutions (K/L).
Meanwhile, regarding the proposal for subsidized housing to be used as employee housing, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs has asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to submit the scheme or concept through the Ministry of Home Affairs. This is intended so that local governments can prepare and socialize to the public regarding the schemes created or offered by the Ministry of PUPR.
For information, previously, the Director of Housing for the Ministry of Public Works and Housing had said that, South Papua wanted subsidized housing as employees’ housing, with land prepared by the local government and construction costs in the state budget. Therefore, a FLPP scheme or subsidized housing will be created at a cost that you can afford if the land is prepared by the local government.
Sri Purwaningsih as Plh. It seems that the Director General of Bina Bangda has made minutes of agreements regarding activities that are financed through the APBD. The minutes have been signed by Dir SUPD II, Kasatgas and PJ Sekda in each new autonomous region, and the Directorate General of Bina Bangda will collaborate intensely with PUPR for RC preparation and land readiness as well as a master plan by the Regional Government.
As for the purpose of the division of the province in Papua, it is contained in article 93 of Government Regulation Number 106 of 2021 concerning the Authority and Institutions for the Implementation of the Special Autonomy Policy for the Province of Papua. The regulation states that expansion is to accelerate equitable development, improve public services, community welfare, and the dignity of the indigenous Papuans (OAP).
With the accelerated development of new autonomous regions, of course this will provide new opportunities for the Sons of the Regions to further develop their potential. Moreover, the development of new autonomous regions aims to divide regional government tasks that are increasingly specific and focus on regions and local communities that are far from the center of regional government.
With the existence of development in Papua which has been continuously intensified by the Government of Indonesia since the era of President Jokowi’s leadership which wants to change the paradigm of development so far in the country, that is, it is no longer Java-centric or it no longer only promotes development in certain areas. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is determined to continue to carry out development evenly in all corners of the country to change the paradigm from Java-centric to Indonesia-centric.
Previously on November 17, 2022, the DPR RI Plenary Session had approved the Draft Law (RUU) concerning the Formation of the Southwest Papua Province to become law. On this occasion, member of Commission II DPR RI Guspardi Gaus hoped that the government would be able to make a special autonomy policy for Papua Province, not only be able to overcome conflict problems, but also be able to accelerate development.
As for the purpose of the division of the province in Papua, it is contained in article 93 of Government Regulation Number 106 of 2021 concerning the Authority and Institutions for the Implementation of the Special Autonomy Policy for the Province of Papua. The regulation states that the expansion aims to accelerate equitable development, improve public services, community welfare, and the dignity of the indigenous Papuans (OAP).
Previously, the Head of the MeePago Tribe Hans Mote stated that he fully agreed and would provide full support to the government for the division of a new autonomous region in the land of Papua. With the division of this new autonomous region, it is hoped that Papua will become more advanced and its development will be more evenly distributed in every line so that its people can progress too.
Progress after the development of the new autonomous regions is because the community will be closer to public service centers, because with the development of the new autonomous regions, of course, it will be followed by the construction of other facilities such as health centers, terminals and various facilities that can be utilized by the community. Moreover, serving the community is the main task of the government, so that the development of new autonomous regions is an effort to accelerate the service process in Papua.
The development of the 4 new autonomous regions of Papua is of course the government’s vision to increase the progress and welfare of the people living in Papua. This acceleration will of course make Papua have competitiveness as well as being able to increase capabilities in various sectors, including economic, social, education and so on.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Makassar