Special Autonomy Brings Papuans to Prosperity and Prosperity

 

Deputy Chairman of the Special Autonomy Formulation Team (Otsus) 2000 Balthasar Kambuaya said that most of the implementation of Otsus Papua has been successful. This is because the large funds and powers that have been given by the central government have accelerated the increase in the degree of welfare and economic development of the people in Papua and West Papua.

"Papuans have to be honest, we acknowledge it (Otsus). Without it, we would not be like this. Almost all of the goals of Otsus we have achieved in part, in my opinion it is 75 to 80 percent," he told a Webinar entitled 'Otsus. to Free Papua '.

Balthasar, a native Papuan, who was once the Chancellor of the University of Cendrawasih from 2005 to 2011, stated that the Special Autonomy Law was drafted by Papuans themselves which was tailored to the needs of the Papuan people at that time. He also said that the great authority given by the central government to the Papuan people to compile Otsus was independence for Papuans and West Papuans.

"So in fact, the Papua region is given so much freedom to regulate its own region, especially with regard to governance, education, economy, health and so on. It is given full authority to the Papua region to regulate it," he said.

According to him, this special autonomy has brought radical changes for Papua. Among them is the budget issue. From the Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) which was initially Rp. 700 to Rp. 800 billion since 2001, it has increased to trillions every year. Then the addition of the New Autonomous Region (New Autonomous Region) which is part of a special strategy to accelerate Papuans out of underdevelopment.

"From the existence of this New Autonomous Region, this provides a great opportunity for Papuans to become leaders in their own land in their own country, to become regents, become governors, become representatives, become DPR and so on. That is actually the radical change that Papuans have felt since 2001 with the enactment of Law number 1 of 2001, "he explained.

"80 to 90 percent, Papuans are the leaders in this land," he continued.