By: Abner Wanggai)
The government continues to maximize development efforts in Papua. The Acceleration of Development in Papua is a firm commitment of the Government to bring justice to all Indonesian people.
Minister of National Development Planning / Head of the National Development Planning Agency (PPN / Bappenas) Suharso Monoarfa revealed that the government is strengthening development designs in Papua based on indigenous Papuans.
According to him, Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9 of 2020 concerning the Acceleration of Welfare Development in Papua and West Papua is the basis for the government’s commitment to solving the root problems experienced by the Papuan people.
He said that there were significant changes reflected in the decrease in the percentage of poor people, from 54.75 percent in March 1999 to 26.55 percent in September 2019 through a number of steps in the big design that had been carried out for Papua and West Papua.
As for the grand design of accelerating welfare development in Papua and West Papua, first, the government agrees that the special autonomy framework in accordance with Law Number 21 of 2001 for Papua Province is an affirmative and contextual step in managing the development of local government and public services.
In the context of the sectoral regulatory framework to the budget framework, the Special Autonomy has sparked a new spirit of policy formulation specifically for Papua, both at the central and regional levels.
Second, Otsus has pushed for political decentralization that opens up space for Indigenous Papuans (OAP) to participate in local governance.
The OAP as the governor, regent and city wal, recognizes cultural specificity through the presence of the Papuan People’s Assembly since 2004 and has formed new districts since 2002 to accelerate public services for Papuans in remote areas.
This means that the authority to manage development is in the hands of the Papuan people, according to local needs and wisdom.
Third, special autonomy is the government’s guide in the special design of development for Papua which is accelerated, through Presidential Instruction Number 9 of 2017 and most recently Inpres Number 9 of 2020.
This strategy is proof of the alignment of the Papuan context with a focus on Papuan human resources, the people’s economy from upstream to downstream, integrated regional infrastructure, sustainable development and good governance.
Fourth, Jokowi’s steps through the adoption of a cultural approach to customary and ecological territories in national development planning, both in the 2015-2019 RPJMN and 2020-2024 RPJMN.
The seven customary territories in Papua include Saireri, Tabi, Laa Pago, Mee Pago, Animha, Domberai and Bomberai.
It is hoped that the policy strategy and implementation can match the aspirations and local wisdom needs of Papua and West Papua.
Fifth, commitment to empowering OAP in the public sphere, both in the ranks of ministries / institutions, TNI / Polri and BUMN.
In particular, President Jokowi has also issued presidential regulation (Perpres) Number 17 of 2019 concerning the procurement of goods and services in the context of accelerating welfare development in Papua and West Papua which encourages the alignment of ministries / institutions and local governments in increasing the capacity of Papuan business actors.
Sixth, the government has also designated Papua Province as the host of PON XX 2020 which has been postponed to October 2021 as an effort to mitigate the Covid-19 pandemic and will be held in Jayapura City, Jayapura Regency and Mimika Regency.
Seventh, various approaches, strategies and policies that are holistic and affirmative for Papua are based on the prevailing global conditions, including climate change adaptation, disaster resilience, gender and social inclusion, collaborative and open governance, and human security.
Suharso also explained that the basic principle is the acceleration of the development of Papua which is humanist, sustainable and inclusive which is oriented towards fulfilling the basic rights of the Papuan people within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Previously, Yan Permanes as a member of Commission I DPR RI considered that the handling of problems in Papua was not just by implementing policies on development, but the most important thing was that there was no longer excessive discrimination against the people in the region.
He also believes that as long as the government is able to show consistency in solving the complexity of the problems in Papua, of course there will be a peaceful solution in the Land of Papua, there will be a peaceful solution in the Land of Papua as an inseparable part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
Papua needs fair treatment, so development for the easternmost region must prioritize an approach that is oriented towards fulfilling the basic rights of the Papuan people.
) * The author is a Papuan student living in Yogyakarta