Issues on Papua — and its sister West Papua — have always drawn the interest of both domestic and international communities. Both regions are as attractive as the country’s capital Jakarta and resort island of Bali.
While Jakarta is the center of gravity for politics and the economy of
the country and Bali remains a magnet for foreign tourists, the
provinces of Papua and West Papua are rich in natural resources and
beauty — many of which have yet to be explored or tapped. It is the two
regions’ natural resources and beauty, as well as the political
sensitivities of their history, that have made these regions sexy and
hotly debated subjects.
As the police continue to investigate and
pursue suspects in a series of shooting incidents that wracked both
Papua and West Papua provinces in the last few months, and as separatism
remains a thorny issue, proposals calling for the establishment of four
new provinces, from the existing two provinces, are yet another test of
the Jakarta-initiated “Special Autonomy Status” in both provinces.
Three
regions in Papua and one in West Papua are looking to become new
provinces in the hope of reversing sluggish development under former and
current administrations. The petitioners have urged the Papuan
Consultative Assembly (MRP) to issue a recommendation approving their
formation.
The four proposed provinces are named South Papua,
Central Papua, Teluk Cendrawasih (currently part of Papua province) and
Northwest Papua (currently part of West Papua province), each comprising
several regencies and municipalities.
Since the introduction of
regional autonomy over a decade ago, Indonesia has seen the formation of
205 new autonomous regions — seven provinces, 164 regencies and 34
municipalities. In total, the country now has 529 autonomous regions: 33
provinces, 398 regencies and 98 municipalities.
The government
declared a moratorium in 2009 against the formation of new regions in
light of the fact that the new regions were largely under-performing in
four areas: Good governance, public services, competitiveness and social
welfare. Still, proposals for additional regions have continued to be
put forward and the House of Representatives agreed on bills for the
creation of 19 new regions (one province and 18 regencies) in April.
Aspirants
do have legitimate grounds in pursuing the creation of the new
provinces, citing gaps in public service delivery. Many people at the
grassroots level claim to still be waiting to benefit from the special
autonomy status granted to both Papua and West Papua provinces.
But,
their proposals were no less controversial, as they apparently neglect
the principles of efficiency and appropriateness. According to 2010
data, the population of Papua stood at 2,833,381 with West Papua at
760,422. Both are relatively densely populated regions. Establishing new
provinces — and regencies — will only lessen the size of each province
and regency, and trigger serious problems in the availability of
infrastructure and skilled manpower to fill new governmental posts in
each new provincial and regency administration. These limitations
exclude considerations of the financial capacity of both the local and
central governments to support the whole process until the new provinces
and regencies are financially and institutionally capable of standing
on their own two feet.
Their proposals also come at a bad time.
Although the country has booked significant economic growth in the past
few years, its economy is not completely immune to the potential impacts
of international economic or financial crisis.
It is indeed
within their rights to demand the establishment of new provinces and
regencies, but the final decision on whether to endorse their proposals
should also consider the overall impact on the country’s financial
condition and development programs.
Comment:
Andrew Johnson / Sat, 30/06/2012 - 06:06am
In 1962 Indonesia signed an agreement which in articles 14 to 21
promised it would allow self-determination, I believe at Indonesia's
request the agreement said "all adults, male and female, not foreign
nationals to participate in the act of self-determination"
Under the Suharto regime a "Act of Free Choice" was swapped for the "act of self-determination".
Isn't it time for the non-Suharto regime to allow the "act of
self-determination" ? I think that would be the best thing of Indonesia,
if the financial arrangements between Jakarta and Papua are fair then
the Papuan people would not doubt want to keep those arrangements in
place irrespective weather Papua is a province or an independent nation.
Indonesia by telling the UN General Assembly that an act of
self-determination as defined in UN General Assembly resolutions 1514
(XV) and 1541 (XV) is being allowed, would save face and gain respect
from current and potential trade partners.
As Jakarta is no doubt aware I'm in the process of getting legal
opinions to confirm weather I can get a federal court to order Australia
to raise Papua at the UN General Assembly. People in Germany, NZ, UK,
and the US will no doubt follow suit in due course. The
self-determination of Papua has always been an international matter, how
Indonesia treats Papua now will affect Indonesia's global reputation
for a long long time. The old goals of Empire and colonialism are not as
profitable as trade in the modern world. I hope the people of Indonesia
will decide to stop colonizing Papua, and will soon decide that good
long term trade relations are worth more than any short term advantages
of colonialism.