The Papua Provincial Government Complains the Special Autonomy Problem

The Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov) raised issues regarding special autonomy (Otsus) during an audience with the MPR. During the meeting, he also conveyed his proposal for the expansion of Papua Province as a solution.

In his presentation to the MPR at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (20/5/2021), the Papua Provincial Government said that the expansion was urgent so that the region could develop.

"We hope that the provincial expansion (can be done) because the experience around West Papua, Manokwari does not have the potential to develop compared to Sorong," said Regional Secretary (Sekda) Papua, Dance Flassy.

Dance explained that economic growth is mostly in Sorong, so it can be seen that the condition until now West Papua is still slow in government services. This condition can be used as an example for the expansion of the province in Papua. With the expansion, all government services will run quickly.

"This is the result of the special committee related to the Papua Special Autonomy which some time ago. The expansion was also the pressure from several regents. If we want to move forward, we are the only way to do the expansion. We must do the expansion of Papua Province," he said.

According to him, the expansion of Papua Province must be implemented in the context of accelerating development, accelerating economic growth, infrastructure and community services.

"This is our dream for the progress of the nation and state, especially development in the land of Papua," he said.

Dance also describes issues surrounding Papua's Special Autonomy. First, the poverty reduction index increases. However, Papua Province is at the lowest point compared to other provinces.

Second, there are still parts of the community who have not been touched by development and have not become economic actors in their own land even though they have been made efforts through a people's economy program.

Third, the level of income of the community, especially OAP in villages and migrants to cities, is still low. Fourth, the OAP community has not had many opportunities as business actors even though there have been instruments that have been prepared by the government which have been initiated since UP4 B until now.

Fifth, the authority of the Papua Provincial Government in implementing the special autonomy system has not been optimal. Sixth, education and health problems are not yet optimal due to Papua's geographical conditions, especially the central mountains and remote islands, most of which have to be reached by air and sea transportation.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the MPR for Papua Yorris Raweyai explained that the MPR for Papua is a complement to the newly formed council (AKD) consisting of 13 DPR members from Papua and West Papua and 8 DPD members from Papua and West Papua. The enthusiasm generated by the formation of the MPR For Papua is expected to be a solution, not a trigger.

"The commitment to idealism of the MPR For Papua in the next 5 years is legacy in the dynamics of completing Papua comprehensively," said Yorris in the hearing.

According to this senator from Papua, there must be clear parameters and a grand design in solving the Papua problem. This is a momentum so that the concept proposed by the Papua Provincial Government should be brought to the special committee because they will work.

"I hope that these inputs will continue to be communicated," he said.

Yorris also understands the purpose of the special autonomy so that indigenous Papuans (OAP) can feel that there is financial compensation from the state for them that so far has not been felt. He suggested, as a form of transparency, it would be better if the amount of the special autonomy budget and its allocation was posted in each district office so that the public knew that the state provided funds for OAP.

"Hopefully we have the same intention to comprehensively resolve the Papua problem towards a golden Indonesia," said Yorris.

He added, pemekaran must speak in the context of the state, not be diverted into the political sphere. Pemekaran is a statutory mandate for the state, to work within the framework of the Republic of Indonesia, within the framework of Papua.

SOURCE: https://papua.inews.id/berita/bertemu-mpr-pemprov-papua-adukan-masalah-otsus-dan-usulkan-pemekaran-sebagai-sentuk/