By: Yohannes Marewar (Papuan Student in Bandung)
The government’s background in extending the Papua Special Autonomy ( Otsus ) fund is none other than the sincere desire to continue to improve the welfare of the people of Bumi Cendrawasih . Papua’s special autonomy is regulated in Law Number 21 of 2001. It should be noted that this regulation was passed in Jakarta on November 21, 2001 by the 4th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri . The government claims to have disbursed IDR 953 trillion in funds during the 2005-2020 period.
Basically, Otsus Papua was formed for the welfare and development of Papua. The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) emphasized that the spirit of Papua’s Special Autonomy is the acceleration of development, improving welfare, and affirmation, especially for indigenous Papuans (OAP).
It is inconceivable if the Papua Special Autonomy budget was stopped. The Papua and West Papua Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budgets (APBD) are in danger of falling. This is because most of the regional cash for the two provinces comes from the Special Autonomy Fund . For example, in Papua Province, the portion of the special autonomy funds contribution to the APBD reaches 52.68 percent. Meanwhile in West Papua the portion reached 63.7 percent.
The revision of the Special Autonomy Law, which is now being handled by the DPR, is an important momentum to make comprehensive improvements for the good of the Papuan people. Because the existence of Otsus Papua from 2001 is a demand and hope for the Papuan people to improve their welfare .
The Deputy Chief of the Central Highlands Tribe of Keerom Regency , Tiombri Wenda , hopes that the Otsus policy will continue for development and progress in the Land of Papua.
Support for Papua’s Special Autonomy also comes from a religious leader , Rev. Merry Lauren Wompere , who is a member of the GKI Solagratia congregation , Arso II, Keerom Regency . He admits that Otsus Papua is able to encourage better development in Papua when compared to before the existence of Otsus .
He himself represents the GKI congregation Solagratia Jaifuri sincerely hopes that Otsus Papua will continue for the sake of development and progress in Papua. In fact, Rev. Merry said that those who reject the Papua Special Autonomy do not represent the voice of the Papuan people at all, they are the enemies of the Papuan people.
Therefore, the sustainability of Otsus Papua should be supported and guarded for the progress of Papua, especially in terms of Human Resources (HR), because with the existence of Otsus , many Papuan children can continue their education to higher education and not only that, Otsus will be extended is a form of the government’s seriousness in developing and improving the welfare of the Papuan people , which is an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia.
