The MRP Must Listen To The Aspirations Of The Papuan People Who Want Special Autonomy To Continue

By: Achmad Faisal (Former Journalist)

 

The Mayor of Jayapura, Benhur Tomi Mano, also expressed his refusal to hold an RDP. The rejection was the result of a coordination meeting attended by the forkopimda Jayapura city, traditional leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, and village heads.

The Papuan people say they support the continuation of the special autonomy policy by the government because so far it has brought positive changes for Papua with the development of infrastructure and human resources (HR).

Support for the continuation of special autonomy can be seen from the refusal of residents to hear the hearing (RDP) of the Special Autonomy Law by the Papuan People's Council (MRP). Papuans strongly reject their RDP because they have benefited from Special Autonomy.

Regent of Nabire Isaias Douw as Chairman of the Association of Regents for the indigenous area of ​​Meepago is a regional head who firmly opposes the implementation of RDP in the Dogiyai area in November 2020.

Regent of Nabire Isaias Douw as Chairman of the Association of Regents for the indigenous area of ​​Meepago is a regional head who firmly opposes the implementation of RDP in the Dogiyai area in November 2020.

He said that the people in the Meepago customary area had already felt the benefits of Special Autonomy. For that, he did not allow RDP in his territory. It is feared that the implementation of the RDP will cause security and order vulnerabilities in the Meepago customary area.

The Mayor of Jayapura, Benhur Tomi Mano, also expressed his refusal to hold an RDP. The rejection was the result of a coordination meeting that was attended by the Jayapura City forkopimda, traditional leaders, religious leaders, community leaders, and village heads on November 13, 2020.

The coordination meeting stated that the special autonomy would continue in the city of Jayapura. Thus, communities in 27 indigenous territories and the Portnumbay government both rejected the RDP and at the same time rejected the referendum in Jayapura City.

The continued support for Special Autonomy was also voiced by the Head of the Political, Legal and Human Rights Division of the Republic of Indonesia, Absalom Yarisetpuw. According to Absalom, Special Autonomy is needed by Papua for Papua's infrastructure and human resources. The development process that has been running with the Special Autonomy program must continue to be carried out. He also rejected the MRP’s RDP.

Regarding the statement by one of the MRP leader who said that the rejection of the RDP was carried out by a small group, Absalom denied this. He stated that many indigenous Papuans (OAP) have asked for Special Autonomy to continue. He asked the MRP not to provoke.

Similar support for the continuation of the Special Autonomy program comes from community groups in Jayawijaya District. They asked that their aspirations be conveyed to President Joko Widodo.

Papuan veteran Alex Doga, who was present with residents in Wamena, said he represented the fighters for the continuation of Special Autonomy. Fighters accept development in the Jayawijaya area. The veterans also thanked the government for the development that has been done in Jayawijaya. Special Autonomy is needed by the community because there are still many areas that need improvement.

The government itself, through the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, has proposed continuing the provision of the Papua and West Papua Special Autonomy Fund for the next 20 years or until 2041. This proposal is included in the Revision of Law Number 21 of 2001 on Papua's Special Autonomy. In addition to continuing Special Autonomy, the government will also increase the amount of the Papua and West Papua Special Autonomy Budget allocation, which so far has 2 percent of the DAU, up to 2.2 percent. For information, during the 20 years of the Special Autonomy program in Papua and West Papua, the special autonomy funds have reached Rp. 138.65 trillion.

The MRP should be able to be more objective in formulating policies. If many Papuan people support Special Autonomy, why should RDP be held? Besides wasting time, of course also wasting money. 

The MRP as an institution formed from the Special Autonomy Law is wiser. Not forming an RDP that carries political content. If the MRP is right as a representative of the people and wants to facilitate the voice of the Papuan people, then move objectively. The MRP should not show any signs of holding the RDP but instead have a negative content, such as directing it for a referendum.