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student group is demanding that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) probe allegations made by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that Papua special autonomy funds have been misused.

“The KPK should find the courage to thoroughly investigate the reported misuse of the funds and legally process everyone involved in the case, including officials from the central government and those from the provincial, regency and mayoralty administrations,” Papua Pegunungan Tengah Student Association (AMPTPI) secretary-general Markus Haluk told The Jakarta Post.

“If [the BPK report] is only regarded as a finding without pursuing legal action, it is the same as neglect and giving the chance for officials to continue committing corruption,” he added.

Papua’s special autonomy funds have encouraged corrupt behavior in officials from the central government and from the regency and mayoralty administrations in Papua, he said.

The often-delayed disbursements of special autonomy funds to Papua, Markus added, led to an insignificant amount of funds going to Papuans, while officials grew rich.

Markus said that Papua’s special autonomy has been poorly implemented from its inception.

The provision of vast sums by central government to local administrations has created new problems instead of mitigating existing ones.

Markus proposed a transparent audit of all special autonomy funds disbursed to date and to suspend additional disbursements, whether from the government or international donors, until such an audit was complete.

Markus called for an evaluation of Papua’s special autonomy in light of the audit.

“Special autonomy has been in place for 10 years already but has never been evaluated. The remaining 15 years will continue to be unfavorable,” Markus said.

Papua Corruption Watch (PCW) chief Rifai Darus said that the BPK’s findings showed that local governments in Papua were not honest, alleging that vast sums had been embezzled while the people of Papua continued to live in misery.

“It’s not the people who have benefitted the special autonomy funds. It’s the bureaucrats.”

Rifai said that the corruption was made possible due to weak legislative oversight.

“The findings must be followed by legal action in order to serve as a deterrent,” he said.

The BPK said that Rp 4.12 trillion of Rp 19.12 trillion (US$2.2 billion) in special autonomy funds disbursed between 2000 and 2010 had been embezzled.

The total amount of special autonomy funds that have been disbursed to Papua and West Papua so far to date is Rp 28.84 trillion.