Papuan Students in Jakarta Support the Extension of Special Autonomy Volume 2

A group of West Papuan youth who are members of the West Papua Unity Youth (PPP-BR) staged an action to support the Papua Special Autonomy Volume II agenda. This action was held in front of the Ministry of Home Affairs Building, Jalan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, Friday (7/8/2020).

The person in charge of the action Rajit Patiran emphasized that the implementation of Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua and West Papua has been running since the enactment of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province (Papua Special Autonomy Law).

The law was later amended in Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perpu) Number 1 of 2008 which also served as the legal umbrella for the West Papua region's special autonomy. In this law, the special autonomy for Papua and West Papua is valid until 2021.

"The government must continue to enforce special autonomy for Papua and West Papua. The implementation of the special autonomy in the easternmost province will end in 2021, "said the student of the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) from West Papua.

He explained, basically the Papua Special Autonomy is a multidimensional solution to solving the Papuan problem in the past, present, and future. Therefore, he continued, the Papua Special Autonomy Law became the formal legal basis for granting special authority by the state to the government and people in the provinces of Papua and West Papua provinces.

He added that this law is a commitment to allocate a number of sources of affirmative funding for the two provinces. This is regulated in Articles 34,25 and 36 of the Papua Special Autonomy Law.

"Therefore, we as Papuans in general must support the government of the Republic of Indonesia. To carry out the Papua Special Autonomy agenda, "he said.

Rajit added that the presence of the Special Autonomy Law for Papua and West Papua provinces is a strong legal foundation for the government. So that the government can make corrections and corrections to mistakes and weaknesses in the past.

"So that the people of Papua can enjoy a better and more advanced life atmosphere. As well as being treated fairly and with dignity in an atmosphere of life that is safe and free from fear, "he said.

Therefore, said Rajit, it is necessary to optimize and effectively use Otsus properly. There is also a need for the availability of various regulatory instruments for the implementation of the Special Autonomy law.

"Namely Perdasus and Perdasi. And the readiness and seriousness of the Papua Special Autonomy stakeholder, namely the Papua provincial government. Special autonomy status is still very much needed to accelerate development in Papua. Both in the fields of development, education, health, infrastructure, people's economy and affirmation for indigenous Papuans, "said Rajit.