Leaders in Papua Support Papua's Special Autonomy to be continued

Leaders from coastal and mountainous areas in Jayapura City, Papua support the central government to continue providing Special Autonomy or Otsus funds for Indonesia's easternmost province.

The disbursement of special autonomy funds to Papua since 20 years ago, is considered necessary to continue to build Cenderawasih Earth, so that it is equal to other regions in Indonesia.

This statement was made by leaders of the coast and mountains in Jayapura City.

Ondoafi Sosir, Boas Asa Enoch said that Otsus for Papua is a special authority granted by the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) through Law Number 21 of 2001. Giving Otsus so that Papua Province can regulate and manage the interests of its people, based on aspirations and basic rights indigenous Papuans.

"The special autonomy budget disbursed by the central government from 2000 to 2020 continues to increase," said Boas Asa Enoch.

According to him, special autonomy funds are focused on four priority programs, namely education, health, infrastructure, and community economic empowerment. This is considered as evidence of the central government's attention to Papua.

He gave an example of some of the successes of Otsus, including in the field of education, there were thousands of native Papuan children sent to school abroad. For example, to Australia, New Zealand, Germany, the Netherlands, America, Africa, China, Japan and a number of countries in Asia.

"Various infrastructure and transportation facilities for the land, sea and air transportation sector. In Papua Province, for example the construction of Ewer Airport, Kepi Airport, Ilaga Airport, Oksibil Airport to New Nabire Airport, Mopah Airport in Merauke, as well as improvements to Sentani Airport, "he said.

In addition, said Boas Asa Enoch, the trans Papua road along 1,071 KM has been connected and continues to improve road conditions.

He said, as reported by various media, now the 743 kilometer long trans Papua road has been paved. The rest is still in the soil hardening stage.

"This has proven to be of benefit to the people's welfare, with the lower prices of staple goods," he said.

Seeing the progress of Papua's development which is getting better, Papuan traditional community leaders from the coastal and mountainous areas support the implementation of Otsus, and encourage the central order to continue to evaluate its implementation.

With the evaluation, the benefits that have been felt so far can be increased and felt by all Papuan people, resulting in welfare for the people of Cenderawasih Earth.

The head of Rayon V Rukun Jawijaya or Lapago in Jayapura, David M Hubi, said that many districts in mountainous areas are still lagging behind. For that, it needs a touch of development through Otsus provided by the government.

"We want development to be equal, the same as other regions because our brothers in the mountains are still left behind. [Approximately] 14 or 16 districts on the mountain need to be divided into Papua's Central Highlands province in order to develop in all fields, "said David Hubi.

He said, if there is a party who raises the issue of rejecting Otsus, it is a mistake because what is happening now is that there are still people in the mountains who are not dressed (only wearing traditional clothes).

"I am a parent, because of Otsus, we can know how to count money or hold money because of school. When compared to before the Special Autonomy policy was enacted, that has not happened. It's strange if someone refuses, "said Hubi.

In the statement of coastal and mountainous figures in Jayapura City, also attended the Secretary of the Judicial Council of the Sentani Tribe (DASS) Philipus Deda, Deputy Chairperson of the DASS Yakob Fiabetauw, Head of the Lapago Tribe in the Yapis Jayapura area Ernest Tabuni, Head of the Lapago Tribe in the Entrop Region Andius Tabuni and the Head of the Lapago Tribe Waila Space region.