Nearly 82 percent (of the Papuan people) agree to the special autonomy. Some 10 percent of them leave the choice to the government, thereby translating to the fact that they agree to it. Only eight percent of them reject it.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD highlighted that 82 percent of Papuan residents favored the special autonomy status granted by the central government to the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

The result of a survey conducted by the State Intelligence Board (BIN) in cooperation with several universities indicated that nearly 92 percent of Papuan people loyal to the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) support development in Papua, the minister noted in a press statement released following a dialog on Papua held on Thursday.

"Nearly 82 percent (of the Papuan people) agree to the special autonomy. Some 10 percent of them leave the choice to the government, thereby translating to the fact that they agree to it. Only eight percent of them reject it," he remarked.

The eight percent comprise the political group, clandestine group, and armed criminal group (KKB), he stated.

"The smallest group is KKB. It is the group that law enforcement agencies are encountering based on Law No.5 of 2018 on terrorism. Hence, what they are encountering are the Egianus-led KKB Kagoya-led KKB, Lekagak Talenggen-led KKB, Militer Murib-led KKB, and other groups, so they are not KKB Papua," he remarked.

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During the dialog, Mahfud MD echoed the government's commitment to developing Papua through welfare and dialog approaches.

The vast majority of Papuan residents support development in Papua and are optimistic of the government developing Papua with peace, he stated.

Meanwhile, Chief of the Presidential Staff Moeldoko highlighted President Joko Widodo’s high commitment to developing Papua.

"Which president has visited Papua up to 17 times? Only President Jokowi has done so since he wants Papua to be onward and peaceful," he pointed out.

At the dialog session organized as a side event of a national gathering, international relations expert Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana shared Mahfud's views that Papua is part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia that is non-bargainable.

"We build Papua because it is part of Indonesia," he stated.

He supported the policy to categorize KKB as a terrorist group to be dealt with under the terrorism law.

The Soekarnoputri administration had passed a law on special autonomy in the provinces of Papua and West Papua in 2001 to guarantee Papuans the right to manage their own region politically, economically, and culturally.

The law also stipulated the allotment of special autonomy funds, valid for a period of two decades.

As the transfer of funds will end in 2021, the House of Representatives has included the deliberation of Papua's special autonomy status in this year's National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) priority list.
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Translator: Syaiful Hakim/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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