Supporting the Revision of Special Autonomy for Papua for the Progress of Papua in the Future

 

Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives, Azis Syamsuddin, said that the DPR was open to the revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua or Papua's Special Autonomy which was proposed by the government, even though the Indonesian National Police found allegations of irregularities in the special autonomy funds.

Azis said the Papua Special Autonomy was aimed at creating prosperity and equality for the people of Papua and West Papua as a whole. Regarding the findings of the National Police, Azis asked the suspicion of deviation from the special autonomy funds to be a common concern.

This Golkar politician also asked the Police to carry out strict supervision prioritizing accountability and transparency.

 

"If necessary, the Corruption Eradication Commission and other law enforcers can be involved in supervising the special autonomy fund."

 

The government has indeed proposed a revision of the Papua Special Autonomy Law in the 2021 priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). The Papua Special Autonomy Fund, which started in 2001, will indeed end this year.

There are two points for the revision of the Special Autonomy Law proposed by the government, namely the extension of the special autonomy fund and regional expansion. The amount of the special autonomy fund will be increased from 2 percent to 2.25 percent of the national General Allocation Fund.

Responding to the planned revision of the Special Autonomy Law, the Papua Provincial Government (Pemprov) fully supports the sustainability of the Special Autonomy Law policy in the region.

Acting Regional Secretary, Doren Wakerkwa said that the Papuan Government supports the Special Autonomy Law to continue for the next 20 years. Doren even emphasized that in order to support this policy, the provincial government has begun to formulate various matters relating to its continuation.

Although he admits that for the time being the Provincial Government has chosen to stop or be silent in response to the many comments or statements from various groups outside regarding the policy of Otsus itself.

Doren did not hesitate to highlight it as "Many Stages". He reiterated that his party, based on the Governor's instructions, formulated several articles to be sent to Jakarta, even though people outside were talking a lot as if the Government had set them wrong. Nevertheless, he again made sure that the Papua Provincial Government fully supports the continuation of the Special Autonomy Law for the next 20 years.

The support delivered by the Papua Provincial Government shows the shared commitment between the Regional Government and the Central Government as well as the Indonesian Parliament to bring forth the revision of the Special Autonomy Law that is right on target for the progress of the Papuan people in the future. The same vision in the discussion of the bill will improve the implementation of Otsus which will benefit the welfare of the Papuan people.

 

Denny Rumbayan 

Papuan Observer