Papuans 'fed up' with special autonomy

Nethy Dharma Somba ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jayapura   |  Sat, 03/08/2008 6:19 PM  |  The Archipelago

Growing demands for a self-determination referendum show the Papuan people are fed up with corruption caused by the province's "special autonomy" status, an academic and informal leader said.

Muhammad Musa'ad, a legal expert from Cenderawasih University, said most Papuan people believed special autonomy had not addressed fundamental problems in the province.

"Seven years after special autonomy, no significant changes have been made and even worse, the living standards of Papuan people have fallen to the lowest level, with most being denied access to health, education and employment," he told The Jakarta Post here on Thursday.

Musa'ad, who is a member of the assistance team for special autonomy, said Papuans had been supportive of the law when it was launched in 2001.

"But, seven years into its implementation, their hope of affordable houses, free schooling and healthcare with more hospitals has not been made a reality," Musa'ad said.

"In reality, Papua is in a paradoxical situation. The province has a huge sum of special autonomy funds but most people are getting poorer. Most can no longer afford education and health service and medicine," he said. His comments echo those of Governor Bas Suebu, who addressed local officials during a recent work meeting attended by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Calling for local wisdom rather than Jakarta's policy, Kalla asked local governments to spend the province's surplus of Rp 21 trillion (US$2 billion) to finance development programs.

The resource-rich province has brought in Rp 21 trillion for Papua and Rp 8 trillion for West Papua this fiscal year, a significant increase from past years, Rp 3.6 trillion in 2006, Rp 2.7 trillion in 2005, Rp 2.45 trillion in 2004, Rp 2.43 trillion in 2003, Rp 2.04 trillion in 2002 and Rp 590 billion in 2001.

Jayapura has been shaken recently by waves of student demonstrations demanding the province abandon special autonomy, dissolve the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and hold a referendum to determine the province's future.

Deputy chairman of the Papuan Tribal Council (DAP) Fadal Alhamid accused the government of viewing special autonomy as a money-making exercise.

The funds allocated after the 2001 special autonomy law was introduced has mostly gone into local officials' pockets and the bureaucracy, with only a small portion being used to build infrastructure, Fadal said.

"This has been demonstrated by officials who frequently go out of the province and have luxury houses and cars," he said.

Fadal said the dispute over the formation of West Papua province remained a conflict between the two provincial governments in Papua and had nothing to do with the people.

"The formation of many more provinces in Papua will not create change unless elite locals work harder and the development program is oriented to the poor, the sick and the uneducated," he said.

Musa'ad and Alhamid agreed both Jakarta and the local government should reconcile with the Papuan people to gain their confidence, and suspend the planned formation of four new provinces.

Both called for a revision of the current policy while respecting the rights of the Papuan people.

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