Governance is Still a Source of Problems with Papua's Special Autonomy Funds

Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) M Tito Karnavian revealed that the source of the problem with the Papua Special Autonomy Fund (Otsus) is financial governance. The governance issue starts from planning, execution to financial supervision.

"We see that there are governance issues that are the main problem," said Tito in a Working Meeting with Committee I DPD at the DPD building, Jakarta, Wednesday (27/1/2021). The meeting, which was held online or in a network (online), discussed the revision of Law No. 21 of 2001 on Papua's Special Autonomy.

Tito said the various irregularities that had occurred so far were a reflection of poor financial governance. This has led to many officials in Papua who have gone to jail for mistaking the special autonomy funds.

"This is a concern in the future. Increasing the capacity of human resources, then improving financial management from planning to supervision, "explained Tito.

The former National Police Chief said that another problem related to the Special Autonomy Fund was the absence of program synchronization between the central government, provincial governments and district / city governments. He gave an example of the construction of a pier by the PUPR Ministry. The pier was indeed built, but it couldn't function because there were no roads. The authority for road construction rests with the provincial government.

"Synchronization like this will also be taken care of so as not to be redundant," said Tito.

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati proposed to continue providing the Special Autonomy Fund or the Special Autonomy Fund for Papua and West Papua for the next 20 years or until 2041. This proposal was included in the Revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 on Papua's Special Autonomy. In addition to continuing the Special Autonomy for Papua and West Papua, Sri Mulyani said that the government would also increase the amount of the Special Autonomy Budget allocation for the two provinces, which so far has increased 2% of the DAU to 2.25%.

He said that the increase in the special autonomy budget was expected to have an impact on improving governance. In addition, the distribution of Otsus will use a performance-based block grant and earmark funding scheme.

"This is the goal so that every rupiah of autonomy is truly related to the results. And there is also a need for additional dividers among provinces, as well as stronger and more reliable guidance and supervision of the use of the special autonomy funds, "said Sri Mulyani.

Member of Committee I from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province Abraham Liyanto asked the government not only to pay attention to Papua. 3T (Disadvantaged, Frontier and Outermost) areas such as NTT should also be considered.

“Sometimes we are jealous of Papua too. Very large funds have been disbursed. We in NTT are the same as Papua, which is included in 3 T. Please also pay attention to equality, "said Abraham.

He also felt astonished by Papua being given Otsus. But still volatile. The Free Papua Movement (OPM), the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) and other separatist groups remain, even more brutal.

He suspects that there are foreign interests at play in Papua. They can use a strategy of proxy war, incitement, ideological warfare, and various other means of modern warfare.

"This must be considered by the Indonesian government. Do not get there because the interests are disturbed, then make things. Especially with President Jokowi's policy of taking 51 percent of PT Freeport shares, "said Abraham.

Source: https://www.beritasatu.com/nasional/724637/mendagri-tata-kelola-jadi-sumber-masalah-dana-otsus-papua