It has been three years since the government of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin initiated the two models of approach in the endeavor to develop Papua. The first approach is infrastructure, and the second is the human resources approach.
Both approaches are expected to be the foundation for the region’s continued development.
This was asserted by the Deputy V for Security and Human Rights of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Jaleswari Pramodhawardani in Jakarta, Friday (21/10/2022).
Jaleswari hoped that the regional governments in Papua can follow up on the foundation that has been laid by continuing to engage and build a pattern of two-way communication with people all over Papua.
“In addition, the most important thing is how to prioritize public services and fulfilling the rights of the community,” she said.
At every opportunity, President Joko Widodo has always asserted that the current national development is not Java or Sumatra-centric, but must be “Indonesia-centric”. That is why since the start of his government, the Head of State is committed to develop in an “Indonesia-centric” manner starting with the Papua region.
“The President has visited Papua 15 times. This is important because the Head of State must see all the data and the facts,” said Jaleswari.
The infrastructure approach starts with the most basic, from education to health services. That is why, stated Jaleswari, since the start of President Jokowi’s first term in office to the second, with Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, the commitment to bring social justice to all Indonesians, including in Papua and West Papua, has been maintained.
“This commitment is no mere rhetoric, as he has delivered it in the form of the Presidential Instruction to accelerate welfare development in Papua and West Papua, so it is not merely a commitment to visit there 15 times, but through the issuance of supporting regulations,” Jaleswari stated.
The regulations are contained within the National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN), which is not exclusive to Papua as it is a National Priority Program (PSN).
“Among the regulations is Presidential Instruction No. 9/2020 which began as Presidential Instruction No. 9/2017. With Presidential Instruction No. 9/2020, 43 ministries and agencies are now required to participate in accelerating the development of welfare in Papua and West Papua.”
The Importance of Papuan Human Resource Development
The government’s commitment to the development of Papua is not limited to ensuring the availability of infrastructure, but also to ensure that human resources are enhanced.
“The President always said, that we should not only take a security approach but take the welfare approach. How an affirmative action policy can fulfill the rights of native Papuans which so far has not been optimal, including a cultural approach,” Jaleswari explained.
According to Jaleswari, that is why the government ensures that if human resource development were to be met, not only educational, health, and others, but also sustainable assistance, aside from budget allocations that must be accurately targeted.
“We all know how decisions from organizing the National Sports Week (PON) in Papua to the single-price fuel policy can be successfully implemented there, proving that if commitments made in President Joko Widodo’s administration are executed thoroughly, it is possible that national development can be achieved,” she said.
On the same occasion, the Deputy for Government Policy Support and national Vision of the Indonesian Vice-Presidential Secretariat, Velix Wanggai asserted that the government has laid the foundation for development in Papua, even for the next 20 years.
“President Jokowi and Vice President Ma’ruf Amin have laid the foundation for Papua in the future. This means that in the last 8 years and that foundation is important for us Papuans. The policy will then be referred to as the Papuan development acceleration masterplan 2022-2041,” he said.
The special feature of the regulation, he said, will be the reference in the formulation of the National Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and the Regional Medium Term Development Plan (RPJMD). There are targets that must be met by related stakeholders.
‘A masterplan that is a guide for everyone. Whether in ministries, agencies, provincial governments, regencies, and cities,” Velix said.
He continued that the government policy which increased the special autonomy budget by 2,25 percent of the national general budget allocation limit will bring many positive changes in Papua.
The budget inflow, he said, will be a strong reason for strengthening communications between the central government and the entire regional government in Papua, in order to push for accelerated development in various areas.
“It will be part of easing the synchronization through the budget, as well as the coordination between the centre and regional governments,” Velix said.
From the Regional Autonomy policy (OTDA), the government proves that public services have become closer to the community. The simplification will impact Papua’s economic growth.
“The public services for the entire community can be fulfilled by the government,” Velix added.
On the cultural side, he stated that the government has used approaches based on local wisdom and customs. “Having the local wisdom context which then sees and differentiates basic issues found in Papua,” said Velix.
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