The province of Papua, which has a indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy, was handed over from the Dutch Government to the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
However, the Papuan people have never felt like citizens who free from suffering.
Discussion Regarding the Indigenous Governance System and Papuan Autonomy
Even though it has a indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy, the conflicts that occur in Papua are rooted in an injustice that originates from the unequal distribution of economic development results carried out by the new order.
The following is an explanation of the government in Papua from time to time that needs to be studied as history:
1. The Papua Special Autonomy Law
Law Number 21 of 2001 concerning Special Autonomy for the Province of Papua (UU Otsus Papua) gives broad authority to the province
And the people of Papua to regulate and manage themselves within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.
The Papua Special Autonomy Law is an improvement to Law Number 21 of 2001. Not only that,
But the Papua Special Autonomy Law also aims to accelerate development and increase the distribution of products in Papua and being West Papua’s independence movement.
In addition, it also provides roles for Indigenous Papuans through representatives of religion, custom and women.
2. Platform for Special Autonomy
New special autonomy is known in the indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy of the State of Indonesia in the reform era. Previously, only the terms special regions and special regions were known.
Special Autonomy for the Papua Province is a special authority recognized and given to the Papua Province to regulate and manage the local community’s interests according to their initiative based on the aspirations and basic rights of the Papuan people.
The constitutional basis of Special Autonomy for Papua is Article 18B of the 1945 Constitution, which states that the state recognizes and respects special regional government units regulated by law.
Thus, the autonomy given to Papua is special and different from the autonomy implemented in other regions.
Therefore, the provisions on regional autonomy and local government that apply to Papua should also differ from other regions in Indonesia.
3. Three Matters Regarding the Specificity of Papua Autonomy
Apart from that, the indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy by Law Number 21 of 2001 can be seen from three things. First, there is an institution of cultural representation of indigenous Papuans.
The Papuan People’s Council (MRP) has certain powers to protect indigenous Papuans’ rights based on respect for customs and culture, empowering women, and strengthening religious harmony.
Second, there are special arrangements related to regional income for Papua.
The specificity of Papua is in the amount of revenue-sharing funds for natural resources in the oil mining sector by 70 per cent and natural gas mining by 70 per cent.
Third, the recognition of cultural existence through the use of special symbols that represent the existence of Papua, the naming of institutions, and the naming of rules which are also special.
4. Throwing Some Funds
Since twenty years ago, the central government has provided special autonomy funds for the West Papuan independence movement.
2022 will be a historic year in implementing the special autonomy for Papua. It will be the first year managing phase II of the special autonomy as the implementation of Law Number 2 of 2021.
The Ministry of Finance has provided IDR 4.77 trillion to the General Treasury in Regencies/Cities/Regions.
In addition, West Papua Province also received an additional allocation of the Oil and Gas Production Sharing Fund (DBH) of up to 70 per cent to support the implementation of special autonomy.
5. Governance in Traditional Villages
Modern governance systems, such as the executive, legislative and judiciary, do not exist in the conventional method.
But the functions of the three government administration have been running automatically in the lives indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy.
In addition, there are no neighbourhood or community associations in traditional villages.
There is also no Village Consultative Body. There was only the Head of the Traditional Village and Ondoafi. Ondoafi was appointed the Head of the Traditional Village.
With the revival of indigenous peoples and the district becoming the centre of government services, young people in the village can be more creative through creative economic programs exploring the town.
The program for reviving indigenous peoples and traditional villages was slow because the head of the Regional Apparatus Organization needed help translating the Regent’s ideas.
Even though the Central Government has supported what is being done in Jayapura Regency.
6. Culture-Based Development
Amid the central government’s efforts to develop development in Papua based on culture and local wisdom, the Jayapura District Government is doing the same thing by involving indigenous peoples.
Besides adopting knowledge from developed countries, indigenous Papuans must return to their customs and culture. Then, form it into a force to build the region.
From indigenous peoples’ perspective, social, political and economic life will be sustainable. If the entire community takes care of nature and its environment.
In other words, human unity with the natural environment is very relevant to ecological issues, especially in Papua. The idea awakens people to respect the natural environment and preserve it.
7. Extension of Special Autonomy in Papua Approved
In the view of her faction, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Eti Wijayati said. The government needs to realize prosperity, justice and peace in Papua.
Because of this, the PDIP faction agreed with the government’s proposal. To extend the implementation of special autonomy in Papua by revising Law No. 21/2001 concerning Special Autonomy for Papua.
Trifena M. Tinal from the Golongan Karya party faction explained that although it has been 20 years since special autonomy was implemented,
Papua’s education, health and infrastructure sectors still need to be improved more than Indonesia’s average district/city.
The following explains the need for a indigenous government system and Papuan autonomy. The history of Papua is indeed very interesting to discuss.
