Felicita C. | Papuan Observer
The application of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua which has been running for the last 20 years has proven to have provided various positive benefits for the development of the welfare of the people of Papua and West Papua. However, Member of the Indonesian Parliament, Willem Wandik, considered the need to strengthen the content or substance of the Revised Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua.
According to Willem, what Papua needs is not only the disbursement of funds, but the authority to manage its territory must be regulated clearly and concretely in the revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua. Furthermore, he stated that at the beginning of 2021, conflict was still ongoing in Papua, this should bring attention to the Central Government that the Papua issue must involve the authority of the Regional Government.
“Problems in Papua should be resolved with local wisdom”
According to him, a series of steps taken so far have not succeeded in creating a peaceful atmosphere in Papua. Therefore, it is necessary to return it to the local government to solve these problems with local wisdom and the spirit of Otsus.
On January 14, 2021, the DPR Legislative Body and the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) agreed as many as 33 Drafts of Law (RUU) to enter into the national legislation program (Prolegnas). One of the 33 bills is the Bill on Amendments to Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua Province.
That way, the DPR will discuss the revision of the Law on Amendments to Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy (Otsus) for the Papua Province during the third session of the 2020-2021 session. The legislator from Papua, Marthen Douw, said he was grateful and thanked him because the Special Autonomy Bill was included in the 2021 priority prolegnas.
Not only from the Parliament, the Chief Executive of the Papuan Student and Youth Declaration Supporting the Extension of Special Autonomy, Cornelia Eveline Cabuy also stated that young people and students from Papua throughout DKI Jakarta also have hopes for the Revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy (Otsus) Papua. Papuan youths agree to support the sustainability of the Special Autonomy policy in Papua. Through the application of Otsus, many infrastructure and human resource developments have succeeded in improving the livelihoods of the Papuan people.
Cornelia invites all parties to unite in building the Cendrawasih Earth so that it is prosperous and progressive, and keep the spirit and work hand in hand to be great. The extension of the Papua Special Autonomy provides an opportunity for the Regional Government to accelerate physical development and human resources in Papua. Therefore, the ongoing development process must be implemented so as to provide broad benefits for the welfare of the Papuan people.
