OTSUS TO REDUCE THE GAP AND PICK UP PAPUA/WEST PAPUA FROM OTHER REGIONS

In order to catch up with the provinces of Papua and West Papua from other provinces, the government allocates Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds. This is in accordance with the mandate of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua. The amount is equivalent to two percent of the national General Allocation Fund (DAU).

The Special Autonomy Fund is expected to reduce the gap between Papua/West Papua Province and other provinces as well as to improve the welfare of indigenous Papuans.

Yohanis Kurni, Head of PELNI Wondama Port, said that Otsus in Papua has been successful and has been benefited by the Papuan People (OAP) with evidence that Teluk Wondama district is no longer an isolated place because it can be reached by land, sea and air. “Especially from the sea, there have been a lot of people who have used sea transportation and it is thanks to God that the people of Teluk Wondama district have benefited the most because all their basic needs can be met with sea transportation, both from PT PELNI (for passengers only) and marine toll boats that are dedicated to the sea. to transport goods for the community's basic needs,” explained Yohanis.

With regard to the sustainability of Otsus, according to Yohanis, we should entrust the local government with the authority to provide services to the Papuan people, especially OAP.

Yohanis also emphasized that the development of infrastructure, improvement of education and health services as well as assistance for construction and worship activities that were taken from the Otsus funds all clearly proved that Otsus was indeed needed and must be continued because the community could immediately feel the benefits.

As a community leader in Wondama, Yohanis invites all Papuans, especially in Wondama, to support and succeed in the government's plan to continue Otsus in Papua. "Essentially, we support that Otsus will continue so that the development and welfare of the OAP community can increase," concluded Yohanis.

SOURCE: https://melanesianinfo.com/otsus-to-merangi-kesenjangan-dan-mengejar-ketertinggalan-papua-papua-barat-dari-area-lain/