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Residents demand development
People living in the Skouw area, along the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border, are still living in appalling conditions without basic utilities amid calls for improvement in the countryâs eastern veranda
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eople living in the Skouw area, along the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border, are still living in appalling conditions without basic utilities amid calls for improvement in the country's eastern veranda.
'From the times of our ancestors until now, we have yet to enjoy electricity, clean water and a good road network,' secretary of the Muara Tami Border Customary Council, Hanock Rollo, said.
Speaking to a delegation of the People's Consultative Assembly led by Deputy Speaker Ahmad Farhan Hamid, Hanock said the village was a murky veranda of Indonesia.
During a dialogue, it was revealed that the central government had prepared Rp 1.3 trillion (US$133.79 million) this year to develop border areas in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.
'We hope the fund can be used to build our homes and villages in the border area. There are only three villages,' said Alfons Patipene, a youth leader in the Skouw area.
'If our village is being developed, then Indonesia's face in the eastern part will look nice to residents of the neighboring country.'
Meanwhile, Farhan said the border fund, which was managed by 20 ministries, should be used fully to improve the livelihood of residents living in the border area. 'Do not build government offices but fulfill the needs of residents.'
Residents also called on the central government and regional administration to pay attention to the future of local children and youths by conducting empowerment programs for them.
In addition to the lack of infrastructure in the border area, Skouw residents also brought up the issue of customary land, which has become a contentious issue with people living in Wutung across the border.
'Before the existence of the border, the relations between residents of Skouw and Wutung was just fine,' said Hanock.
'There are plenty of Wutung residents who have customary land inside Indonesian territory, allowing them the freedom to do as they wish.'
He said one problem was the border market in Skouw, built on the land of the Wutung people.
'The market was built by the Indonesian government but Wutung residents often ask for a cut because they consider it to be built on their land,' said Hanock.
'It would be better if the Indonesian government bought the Wutung customary land so they could no longer act arbitrarily inside Indonesian territory.'
