Regarding a road to the granting of this second phase of special autonomy, there has been in place Presidential Decision No. 20 of 2020 on an integrated coordinating team for accelerating prosperity-oriented developments in Papua and West PapuaJakarta (ANTARA) - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko affirmed that the second phase of special autonomy status granted for Papua and West Papua would instill new spirit in expediting development to create prosperity in both provinces.
"Regarding a road to the granting of this second phase of special autonomy, there has been in place Presidential Decision No. 20 of 2020 on an integrated coordinating team for accelerating prosperity-oriented developments in Papua and West Papua," he remarked.
The presidential decision is aimed at creating a spirit, paradigm, and new-fangled methods of managing accelerated developments in Papua and West Papua, Moeldoko was quoted by ANTARA as saying in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The presidential decision is also aimed at boosting synergistic collaborations among ministries, government agencies, and regional administrations to fast-track development programs to create prosperity in both provinces.
To this end, Moeldoko, concurrently a member of the integrated coordinating team's steering council, highlighted five new frameworks to be applied in creating prosperity in Papua and West Papua.
The first framework is related to efforts to transform the provinces' economy based on customary areas by taking into account the fact that the local governments respect the local wisdom.
The second framework pertains to the quality of environment and disaster resilience; while the third is linked to efforts to develop local human resources of excellent quality, good character, and highly innovative.
The fourth framework is related to economic development and the availability of basic infrastructure, while the fifth framework is related to good governance and security.
The Papuan people are currently consolidating to demonstrate their support for the need to evaluate and continue the provision of granted special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua that will end in 2021.
Several Papuan community and religious leaders have appealed to the central government to extend the provision of the granted special autonomy funds to maintain sustainable development and boost the people's welfare in these two Indonesian provinces.
Soleman Eselo, the Yalimo community leader, was one of the influential Papuan figures to demonstrate his support for the extension of the granted special autonomy funds.
Eselo emphasized that several native Papuan people were assisted owing to the special autonomy funds.
"Without the funds, our buildings remain unsightly and get damaged," the leader pointed out.
The special autonomy funds granted by the government to Papua and West Papua for several years have helped Papuans residing in remote mountains to be successful in various fields.
"I have been participating in educating Papuans coming from mountainous and hilly regions since 1981. Many of them have been promoted to become bureaucrats owing to the availability of special autonomy funds that have helped us," Eselo stated.
Christian priest Merry Lauren Wompere, a member of the Solagratia Indonesian Christian Church (GKI Solagratia) of Arso II in Keerom District, also seconded Eselo's views while affirming that Papua's development was much better during the special autonomy era.
"Representing the GKI Solagratia Jaifuri congregation, I appeal (to the government) to continue the special autonomy for the sake of development and progress in Papua," Wompere emphasized.
Those rejecting the special autonomy funds did not represent the voice of the Papuan people's conscience.
"Instead, they are the enemies of Papuan people," Wompere stated.
ANTARA noted that the central government had provided special autonomy funds amounting to Rp126.99 trillion to Papua and West Papua since 2012.
In Indonesia's 2019 human development index, Papua and West Papua had scored 64.7 and 60.84 respectively.
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Translator: Rangga PAJ, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2020
