OTSUS BRIGHTEN PAPUA'S FUTURE

The DPR RI has ratified the second revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua on July 15, 2021.

The revised Papua Special Autonomy Law has amended or revised 18 articles consisting of 3 articles proposed by the government, and 15 articles outside the government's proposal. Apart from these 18 articles, the Special Committee and the government also agreed on the addition of 2 articles in the Papua Special Autonomy Bill, bringing the total articles in the bill to 20 articles.

There are several changes to the articles resulting from the second revision of the Special Autonomy Law which accommodate specific arrangements for Papuan Indigenous People (OAP) in the fields of politics, education, health, employment and the economy as well as providing support for the development of indigenous peoples.

There has been a change in the political field with the expansion of political roles for OAP in membership in the Regency/City House of Representatives. So the seats of the OAP were not filled from political parties, and affirmed 30 percent of the women's element.

The fields of education and health are changing. In addition, in the field of employment and the economy, there have been changes where in carrying out economic efforts in Papua, it is mandatory to prioritize Papuan Papuans who meet the educational requirements to be recruited into the workforce.

It was also conveyed that there was an increase in spending on assistance for the empowerment of indigenous peoples and special autonomy funds, which increased by 0.25 percent. Including the division of the province in Papua which has been given facilities.

Head of Tuasai Village, Kab. Bintuni Bay, Yanes Tribo said Otsus is a government program that has been running for approximately 20 years and has provided great benefits to the Papuan/OAP community because of priority development in the education and health sectors. This program is very helpful in advancing the economy in Indonesia, especially in Papua, so that Special Autonomy needs to be continued so that the people of Papua/OAP can prosper.

“I really hope that the Government will carry out socialization and transparency regarding the distribution of Special Autonomy funds in Kab. Bintuni Bay. This needs to be done so that the lower middle class, such as in areas that have not been touched by the government at all, know that the Special Autonomy Fund provides great benefits to the lives of the Papuan/OAP people,” he said.

"As the Head of Kp. Tuasai and a community leader from the Sough Tribe have always supported the Government to continue Otsus in Papua, and are willing to invite people in Kab. Bintuni Bay especially Kp. Tuasai to continue to support the government's program," he concluded

SOURCE: https://melanesianinfo.com/otsus-mencarahan-masa- Depan-papua/