By : Bryan Pianus )*
Infrastructure development in Papua continues to be carried out so that the region becomes more advanced. To support development, there needs to be cooperation from all parties. Not only the central government and regional governments. However, the Papuan people also support infrastructure development so that their region becomes more advanced.
In the era of President Jokowi’s administration, development in Papua was accelerated and multiplied. A number of infrastructures, from bridges, roads, to airports, were created for the sake of the community. The construction of these public facilities will facilitate the mobility of residents in Bumi Cendrawasih. Infrastructure development is carried out for the progress of Papua.
The government is very serious about building various infrastructure. First, there is the Trans Papua Road which stretches for more than 4,000 KM. This road will shorten the travel time. If in the past you wanted to go to another village you could take a day and a night because there was only a footpath, now it only takes a few hours.
To support infrastructure development, the role and cooperation of all parties is needed. The Director General of Regional Autonomy at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Akmal Malik, stated that cooperation from all parties is needed to encourage and realize the creation of a grand design to accelerate equitable development for the Papua region.
Akmal continued, security forces and the community are obliged to work together to support Papua’s infrastructure development because they are involved in various government policies on a daily basis. In that sense, building Papua’s infrastructure cannot only be done by the regional government or the central government. However, there also needs to be support from the security forces.
Security forces in Papua are not only tasked with preventing attacks from separatist and terrorist groups (KST) and protecting the community. However, they are also loyal in supporting infrastructure development. For example, when there was construction of the Trans Papua Road. The project workers were escorted by authorities to prevent KST attacks so that they could work smoothly, and were not afraid of KST gunfire.
Escort by security forces is also carried out in other infrastructure development projects such as building bridges and airports. Especially in vulnerable areas such as Puncak Regency. With security, workers will complete their tasks smoothly and the infrastructure will be on schedule and can be used by the Papuan people.
Then, the Papuan people supported infrastructure development and they were grateful because they received attention from the central government. Thanks to President Jokowi’s government, Papua has various infrastructure such as the Trans Papua Road and the Youtefa Bridge.
The community supports infrastructure development and they do not hold demonstrations against an infrastructure project. They are aware that development is aimed at all Papuan people, and the effects will last for decades to come. With infrastructure, their mobility will be faster and will also have a positive impact on the economy of the Papuan people.
Meanwhile, Vice President (Wapres) Ma’ruf Amin stated that the government had ratified Presidential Regulation (Perpres) Number 24 of 2023 concerning the 2022-2041 Papua Development Acceleration Master Plan (RIPPP) on April 17 2023. RIPPP contains three missions large, namely Healthy Papua, Smart Papua, and Productive Papua.
The Vice President added that he had inaugurated the Steering Committee for the Acceleration of Development of Special Autonomy for Papua (BP3OKP), which has one of the main tasks to oversee the implementation of RIPPP.
As a follow-up effort, the Executive Secretary of BP3OKP who also serves as Deputy for Government Policy Support and National Insight of the Vice Presidential Secretariat (Setwapres), Velix Vernando Wanggai, held a RIPPP Consolidation Meeting at the Setwapres Auditorium.
Velix Wanggai stated that his party was moving forward with several points regarding the Vice President’s direction, regarding looking at new spirits, new paradigms, ways of working and new designs so that there would be a leap. One of these leaps can be done through the implementation of programs that provide fast and good results ( quick wins ).
Velix Wanggai continued, the strategy for accelerating integrated development, here are things that are technocratic in nature. His party wants to ensure the master plan in Special Autonomy and the Presidential Decree, then ensure that BP3OKP runs, and ensure projects that are quick wins, whose focus and priority must be carried out.
This quick win program needs to be carried out primarily in sectors that have a direct impact on society, such as the development of infrastructure to support daily life. The new design for the development of the new province is very important, including priorities in the development of facilities and infrastructure.
The Quick Win program will be implemented well if it is carried out through a comprehensive and humanist approach based on territory to provide affirmation to the indigenous Papuan community that the development that will be carried out in their area is for the welfare and progress of the community.
The community, security forces and various parties are ready to support infrastructure development in Papua. They support development projects for a more advanced and orderly Papua. The community supports infrastructure development because thanks to development, mobility and the economy will be much better.
)* The author is a Papuan student living in Manado