Arnold P. | Papuan Student
Chairman of the Red and White Movement (GMP) of Teluk Wondama Regency, West Papua, Moses Ramar said that special autonomy (Otsus) has brought many good things and changes to the lives of indigenous Papuans (OAP). Moses emphasized that there was no reason to reject the continuation of the special autonomy.
“Otsus is like a lamp that changes the lives of indigenous Papuans from darkness to light. Therefore, there is no reason to reject the sustainability of Otsus in Cenderawasih Earth”
Moses said that Teluk Wondama Regency, which used to be dark in the sense that there was no development, was now brightly lit. From capital cities to islands, even mountainous areas.
Moses said that with the infrastructure of bridges, piers, roads and even islands the government has built, and even education has gone well. With that, Moses declared the Government’s attention was successful.
The retired Army officer did not deny that there were still many problems in the implementation of the special autonomy program in West Papua, including Wondama Bay. However, in general Otsus has brought positive changes to the lives of OAPs.
Alluding to the notion that Papua’s special autonomy had failed, Moses stated that it arose because information about the results of development and activities financed by the special autonomy fund was not widely communicated to the public.
As a result, said Moses, the Papuan people, especially those in the villages, do not know much about the benefits of the special autonomy fund. In addition, there is a lack of openness from the village head to the government regarding the use of special autonomy funds.
It is said that the special autonomy funds have been used to build social houses, roads, bridges, education, so that people who sell on the roadside get special autonomy funds.
Meanwhile, to improve the management of Otsus funds, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) recommends several things related to the Papua Special Autonomy program to the government. Recommendations are given based on BPK’s findings on the implementation of the special autonomy program in Papua.
This is stated in his latest report entitled Opinion of the BPK on the Management of Special Autonomy Funds in the Provinces of Papua and West Papua.
Some of the BPK’s findings related to the Papua Special Autonomy program, among which the government did not develop regulations related to Papua Special Autonomy funds in full and the provision of Papua Special Autonomy funds in cash through regional transfers had not been managed properly.
On these two matters, there are two recommendations given by the BPK.
First, this is related to the sustainability of the special autonomy program for Papua. According to BPK, the government must improve governance and build a system that ensures clear accountability in encouraging the pace of development in Papua.
In addition, the special autonomy program must also be directed at increasing accessibility related to physical infrastructure, especially road and bridge transportation infrastructure. Then, the government must build awareness about the right to legal certainty to develop investment in Papua.
Second, the government must improve the management of the Papua Special Autonomy program in terms of regulations, institutions, and human resources.
