By: Abner Wanggai) *
The government continues to realize various development targets in Papua. The community is eagerly awaiting the sustainability of this development considering the many benefits that have been felt.
On September 29, 2020, President Joko Widodo issued instructions on the acceleration of welfare development in Papua and West Papua Provinces, there were special orders for the ranks of ministers, TNI, Polri and state institutions, as well as local governments (pemda). They are asked to take breakthrough, integrated, precise, focused and synergic steps according to their respective duties, functions and authorities in a coordinated and integrated manner. The goal is to accelerate welfare development in Papua and West Papua.
What is important from development in Papua is the development of human resources for indigenous Papuans (OAP), where the ability and creativity of Papuans in developing the economy is very advanced.
Previously, Vice President Ma’ruf Amin had explained that one of the issues in Papua that had to be resolved was the high poverty rate. Therefore, he asked that in the development of Papua, a new spirit, a new perspective and a new way of working was needed to improve the welfare of the people in the region.
Ma’ruf emphasized that the purpose of stipulating the Presidential Decree 9/2020 was to create an advanced, prosperous, peaceful and dignified community for the Papua and West Papua provinces.
The objective of Presidential Decree No. 9/2020 is a follow-up to the implementation of Presidential Regulation No. 18/2020 concerning the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN).
This instruction is addressed to all ministers so that this development can be accelerated.
In this presidential instruction, it is said that this regulation is needed as a breakthrough, integrated, precise, focused and synergic step between ministries / institutions (K / L) and local governments to create advanced, prosperous, peaceful, and dignified people in Papua and West Papua Provinces.
Jan Christian Arebo as the Chairperson of the Papua Indigenous Youths said the government’s efforts and attention to develop Papua were good. However, there is still homework to be done so that the Papuan people can prosper.
The homework that Christian meant was the implementation of special autonomy (autonomy) which has not been going well. Moreover, there is no transparency from the provincial or district governments regarding the implementation of the policy on absorption of funds.
Christian also invited youths in Papua to attend by opening their minds, views and insights so that the public would know that NKRI was final. This means that Papua cannot be separated from Indonesia.
He also added that the central government continues to be committed to continuing development in Papua. This can be seen from the serious efforts over the last five years from all sectors.
During his reign, Jokowi has prioritized the development of superior infrastructure and Human Resources (HR) as part of a large form of framework for answers to solutions to problems in Papua.
For the development of physical infrastructure, for example, the development of the Trans Papua which is very progressive and transformative, as well as the completion of the Papua Bangkit stadium with international standards.
In addition to infrastructure, Jokowi has also implemented policies such as “One Price Fuel”, as a tangible manifestation of energy equity in Indonesia. Because previously assessed that there was a difference in fuel prices between Papua and outside Papua, the disadvantaged, frontier and outermost (3T) areas were the focus of the government in implementing the One Price BBM program. As well as other infrastructure that is also being built by President Jokowi is the Palapa Ring fiber optic.
It was recorded that at the end of 2020, Jokowi had targeted the internet to be accessible to Papua and West Papua by encouraging the development of the East Palapa Ring.
Previously, Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said that the Human Development Index (HDI) in Papua and West Papua has increased from year to year.
Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) shows that Papua’s HDI has increased from 57 in 2014 to 60 in 2018. Meanwhile, in West Papua Province, it has also increased from 61 in 2014 to 64 in 2018.
The acceleration of welfare development in the Land of Papua has an impact on increasing the human development index and reducing the poverty rate.
Development in Papua is a form of attention from the government which wants development in an Indonesian-centric manner. The development of infrastructure in Papua certainly supports all transportation and economic activities in Papua, where this massive development will have an impact on the progress of the easternmost region of Indonesia.
) * The author is a citizen living in Yogyakarta