Regional Autonomy: Mimika’s rural areas rise after 20 years of neglect

Markus Makur , The Jakarta Post , Timika | Mon, 11/03/2008 10:24 AM | The Archipelago

During the Catholic missionary period, the village of Kokonao was a center of education, but when West Mimika’s administration center moved to Timika city twenty years ago, it was gradually forgotten about.

Kokonao, the capital of West Mimika district, is situated in the mountainous region of Central Papua. However, thanks to various development programs set up by the regency administration, the condition of the area has considerably improved. Fisheries, housing, clean water facilities and a number of other infrastructure projects have been established.

The impact of special autonomy to education

Today I read an Indonesian blog namely  BillyMambrasar in bahasa Indonesia. I think it is important for us Papuan to realise how good is the impact of special autonomy for Papuan young generation.

Billy explained several points on the impact of special autonomy as follows:

1. Since the legal process of special autonomy law for Papua started in 2001, the program of improving Papuan human resource became one of the most important concern of the government. Education became the top priority based on the budget precentage.

2. After special autonomy fully implemented, education program, scholarship, and access to school are incerased significantly. Many Papuan children and young generation got opportunities to join higher education (including Billy Mambrasar, without special autonomy he could not possibly to enter Bandung Institute of Technology). The number of Papuan intelektual and Papuan your generation with a national and international achievement increased sharply.

The British Human Rights Report 2007

A very important note was stated in British Human Rights Report 2007.  I think it would be great if a peaceful dialogue among Papuan, Papua local government, Indonesia central government, Indonesian civil society, Papuan local NGO, and national NGO can be held openly and sincerely. The implementation of special autonomy should be discussed carefully in an honest atmosphere as a vital step to resolve the complex problem of Papua. Hostile action and negative propaganda by some radicals should be stopped. Violation of human rights by some military unit should also be stopped. At the same time, during the process of dialogue among parties in Papua, restrictions on access to Papua by NGOs and journalists should be loosen, so the world will see the reality of positive development in Papua. Hopefully, some irresponsible Papuan who take economical and political opportunity in foreign countries will realise that their action is only worsening the situation in Papua.

NGO raises concerns about Papuan

Do Australian and New Zealander know what happen in Papua recently? The news on protest against the special autonomy law was somehow mislead to a certain opinion that situation in Papua was so bad. In the name of human rights and political struggle, Australian pomp like Joe Collins manipulated the news by his own political agenda by saying that he concerned about Papuan safety.