By: Timothy Gobay) *
Infrastructure development and special autonomy are among the priority programs of the Government in Papua. The community also supports the continuation of Development and Special Autonomy in the context of realizing a more prosperous Papua.
Dozens of Papuan community leaders, consisting of tribal leaders, youth leaders and religious leaders, held a peaceful demonstration aimed at supporting the sustainability of special autonomy (autonomy) at the Wenehule Huby Autonomous Office, Wamena District, Jayawijaya Regency, Papua Province.
During the action, the masses expressed their aspirations related to the continuation of Otsus and gave a statement letter addressed to the Jayawijaya Regional Government so that Otsus, which has been running for 20 years, will continue in Papua.
Jayawijaya veteran figure Alex Doga who represents the community in conveying his support for the implementation of Otsus in the Land of Papua, where according to him Otsus has provided many benefits in development in all fields in Papua.
He said that his party as community leaders, fighters, pioneers, youth leaders, women, were present at the regent’s office to convey their aspirations that they support the sustainability of the special autonomy.
The peaceful demonstration that lasted for 1 hour was led by Mr. Carlos Huby from the Indigenous Peoples Organization (LMA), Sili Gombo from Barisan Merah Putih (BMP), Alek Silo Karno Doga from the Determination of People’s Opinions (Pepera), Hengky Heselo from representatives of major district chiefs Kurima, Arnol Haselo representing youth leaders, Aser Huby representing religious figures.
Meanwhile, the DPR RI will soon discuss the Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus) Bill. The escalation of conflict in Papua involving armed criminal groups is considered by many to be a form of distrust of the government.
Mardani Ali Sera as a member of the DPR stated that the revision of the Papua Special Autonomy Law would be a momentum to restore this trust. At least, in the past week, there were disturbances by armed criminal groups in Papua. These disturbances included the shooting of the BTS tower which resulted in the internet network from the East Palapa Ring program not functioning.
Therefore, he hoped that NKRI would be present to protect and serve. There should be no simplification of the problem of violence in Papua and West Papua.
Furthermore, Mardani said, currently entering the end of the Papua Special Autonomy Fund 2021. Therefore, the government needs to evaluate the usefulness of these funds. Why the money that has been given to the Papuan people for almost two decades has not been able to lift the Papuan people out of poverty.
Evaluation of Papua’s Special Autonomy regulations also needs to be carried out with Papuan community leaders directly. In addition, the government needs to conduct studies, dialogue and research that involves various levels of society and listen to experts. So that the level of community satisfaction with the implementation of Otsus so far can be known.
Apart from the Special Autonomy Fund, the government has also allocated an additional Infrastructure Fund (DTI) of Rp. 4.3 trillion in the 2021 Draft State Budget. The determination of the amount of this budget is based on an agreement between the government and the DPR and considers proposals from the Papua and West Papua Regional Governments.
This has been written in the 2021 RAPBN Financial Note, DTI is expected to be able to connect quality land, sea and / air transportation in all districts in the recipient province for at least 25 years since 2008.
According to data from the Ministry of Finance, Otsus and DTI funds have continued to increase for at least the past five years. Billy Mambrasar as the special staff of President Joko Widodo once said that the results of a survey with a sample of 500 Papuan millennials, they thought that Otsus was a process and needed continuous improvement. For example, the use of the budget that must be improved.
He said that Otsus is a process of building body and soul. Therefore, the good things that have been obtained from special autonomy, such as in the education sector which is an investment in human resources, continue to be improved. On the other hand, he agreed that in order to get better, it is necessary to listen to the aspirations of the AOP so that special autonomy can run better.
Of course the special autonomy policy has received support from various layers of Papuan society because this policy is considered capable of making human resources in Papua have access to good education.
Anyone who rejects the existence of Otsus is of course questionable about his concern for the state, because Otsus Jlid II is present as a concrete step for the Central Government to improve the welfare of the people in the Land of Papua.
