Papuan Student Forum Holds Action to Support the Ratification of the DOB Bill

The Papuan Student Forum for the New Autonomous Region (DOB) of Jabodetabek rallied at two points in Central Jakarta, Thursday (23/6/2022). The demonstrators, numbering around 200 people, urged the government and the DPR to immediately ratify the Papua New Guinea Bill (RUU).
 
The demonstration was held in the Horse Statue area, Gambir at 10.30-12.00 WIB and at the DPR/MPR Building, Senayan at 12.30-14.00 WIB. The mass of students who are native Papuans (OAP) come from a number of areas in Greater Jakarta, Bandung, and several other areas in West Java.

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From the Monas area, the crowd had moved to the Presidential Palace. Unfortunately, the action was blocked by the police next to the Horse Statue, so the crowd moved back to Monas and continued the action to the DPR/MPR Building to convey the same demands.

Action coordinator Charles Kossay said the ratification of the new DOB bill should be carried out as soon as possible. The goal is that the Papuan people can feel welfare like other provinces in Indonesia. "The expansion of the new autonomous regions will put the welfare of the land of Papua and OAP on a par with their brothers in other provinces," said Charles when met at the location.
 
In a press release, Charles explained that regional expansion could shorten logistics routes in Papua, which geographically is full of natural challenges. So that logistics fulfillment can be done quickly, effectively, efficiently, and cheaply. In addition, the formation of a new province can shorten the administrative command line.

That way, community services can be carried out quickly, especially in remote areas. "This expansion will equalize the results of development, which so far have been practically only enjoyed by OAP residents in urban areas, whose infrastructure has been built," said Charles.

He conveyed that the OAP student forums for new autonomous regions in Central Papua, Central Highlands Papua, and South Papua were fully aware that President Jokowi's initiative had the potential to interfere with the narrow interests of a handful of elites. This is because the special autonomy funds and other APBD funds will be allocated equally to the three new autonomous regions. "So their corrupt practices are getting narrower," said Charles.

SOURCE: https://www.republika.co.id/berita/rdxagn484/forum-mahasiswa-papua-gelar-aksi-support-pengesahan-ruu-dob