goodmorningpapua.com – The Government of the Republic of Indonesia is very serious about the progress of the Papuan people; there are many policies to accelerate physical development and welfare in the Land of Papua. However, in developing the Land of Papua, the government deals with obstacles in the form of acts of terror carried out by the Papua Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST).
Accelerating the development of Papuan welfare through government support for local economic products has also succeeded in improving the people’s economy and reducing poverty rates in Papua and West Papua. The poverty percentage of the Papuan people decreased from 30.05% in 2014 to 27.43% in 2018. Meanwhile, West Papua from 27.13% in 2014 to 22.55% in 2018.
There are two national energy policies also enjoyed by the people of Papua and West Papua, namely the one price fuel policy and the availability of electricity to all corners of the country, the one price fuel policy has been implemented at 170 distribution points.
In running the structure of government, the government uses an “Indonesia Centric” approach. This approach wants to change the paradigm that infrastructure development is only centralized in Java. National strategic projects are scattered in various regions, even to remote areas. The government, for example, has beautified the appearance of cross-border posts in Skouw, Papua, which borders by Papua New Guinea. Arterial roads were also opened to facilitate community connectivity in Papua and West Papua. Physically, tens of pioneering airstrips, river docks, hundreds of bridges and thousands of kilometres of roads, and dams have been built to comply the water supply in eastern Indonesia.
In building prosperity in Papua, the Government is not without obstacles. The main obstacle at this time is acts of terror carried out by the separatist movement namely the Armed Criminal Group (KKB) which has now been labelled a Separatist and Terrorist Group (KST). Movements carried out by KST have had a negative impact on Papua’s development.
The acts of terror carried out by KST, however, did not want Papua to be more advanced and prosperous like other regions in Indonesia. A number of acts of terror carried out by KST were very heinous, most recently they shot the Head of BIN Papua, Major General posthumously I Gusti Putu Danny Karya Nugraha on April 25, 2021.
From the heinous actions that have been carried out by KST, it is only proper that the law enforcement officials, both the TNI and Polri, eradicate this group, for the sake of the acceleration of development in Papua continues so that the Papuan people become prosperous and advanced.
The efforts made by the Government in the Land of Papua are evidence of the presence of the Indonesian Government in the context of accelerating the development of Papua. This can be seen from the massive development that has been carried out, the increasing in the infrastructure development is very clear in Papua compared to before President Jokowi took office.
The Government is also serious about the development of Papua through a program of the Special Autonomy (Otsus) in Papua. The Special Autonomy of Papua is a special authority recognized and provided to the Papua Province, including the provinces resulting from the division of Papua Province. They are given the mandate to regulate and manage the interests of the local community in accordance with their own initiatives based on the aspirations and basic rights of the Papuan people.
Referring to Law Number 21 of 2001, Otsus aims to improve the standard of living, prosperity and welfare of the community; realizing fairness in revenue from natural resources; upholding human rights and implementing good governance. Papua’s special autonomy will end in 2021.
The people of Papua and West Papua are compatriots and homeland who must receive good service and are considered as subjects, not just objects, of development. Papua must be more advanced and prosperous, because of if it is progressive and prosperous, the people will not easily get caught up in the provocative movements propagated by KST Papua.
Author: Jeffrey L) * An Activist of Student Literacy Forum