PRIVATE GENOS BURDAM: THE CHURCH FULLY SUPPORTS OTSUS PROGRAM

The DPR RI has ratified the second revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua on July 15, 2021.

The revised Papua Special Autonomy Law has amended or revised 18 articles consisting of 3 articles proposed by the government, and 15 articles outside the government's proposal. Apart from these 18 articles, the Special Committee and the government also agreed on the addition of 2 articles in the Papua Special Autonomy Bill, bringing the total articles in the bill to 20 articles.

There are several changes to the articles resulting from the second revision of the Special Autonomy Law that accommodate specific arrangements for Papuan Indigenous People (OAP) in the fields of politics, education, health, employment and the economy as well as providing support for the development of indigenous peoples.

There has been a change in the political field with the expansion of political roles for OAP in membership in the Regency/City House of Representatives. So the seats of the OAP were not filled from political parties, and affirmed 30 percent of the women's element.

The fields of education and health are changing. In addition, in the field of employment and the economy, there have been changes where in carrying out economic efforts in Papua, it is mandatory to prioritize Papuan Papuans who meet the educational requirements to be recruited into the workforce.

It was also conveyed that there was an increase in spending on assistance for the empowerment of indigenous peoples and special autonomy funds, which increased by 0.25 percent. Including the division of the province in Papua which has been given facilities.

The chairman of the GKI Synod Working Body for Region 11 Raja Ampat, Rev. Genos Burdam, expressed his gratitude to the Government, especially the President of the Republic of Indonesia, because the Central Government has ratified the 2021 Special Autonomy Law for the Papuan people, through the church we continue to urge the congregation to jointly supervise funds Special Autonomy so that there is no misuse of the budget.

"We are very grateful to President Joko Widodo, for ratifying the Special Autonomy Law for the Land of Papua," he said.

He also hopes that the ratification of the Special Autonomy Law in 2021 will bring change and prosperity for the people of Papua to develop and be more advanced.

He added that Otsus for Papuans is very helpful for the family's economy including in the fields of health and education, many changes have been brought by Otsus.

"The changes that Otsus have brought are many, for example in the fields of education and health, the Papuan people have felt it all," he said.

He urges and invites all Papuans to fully support the revision of the Special Autonomy Law which has been ratified by the DPR RI, considering that Papua has advanced thanks to the Special Autonomy funds.

SOURCE: https://melanesianinfo.com/pendeta-genos-burdam-church-mensupport-full-program-otsus/