Distribute autonomy funds fairly: Papuan Regent<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Manokwari regent Domiggus Mandacan appealed to Papua governor
\nJaap Salossa to be fair and transparent in distributing the
\nspecial autonomy funds to regencies and municipalities in an
\neffort to help minimize corruption and improve people's welfare.<\/p>\n
\"Learning from last year's experience, the special autonomy
\nfunds distributed to regencies and mayoralties were considered
\ndisproportionate because a larger part of the funds were held by
\nthe provincial administration,\" Antara quoted him as saying in
\nthe town of Manokwari on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said the special autonomy funds allocated by the central
\ngovernment to the province rose by 15 percent to Rp 1.5 trillion
\n(US$182 million) in the 2003 fiscal year from Rp 1.3 trillion
\n($158.5 million) in 2002 but Manokwari's income from the special
\nautonomy fund decreased to Rp 32 billion this year from Rp 41
\nbillion in 2002.<\/p>\n
\"The irony is all 14 newly formed regencies will receive only
\nRp 5 billion each,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, legislator Tampubolon called the distribution of
\nfunds unfair and unrealistic as the provincial government would
\nreceive 60 percent of the special autonomy funds while all the
\nregencies and municipalities would share only 40 percent.<\/p>\n
\"To be fair and realistic, regencies and mayoralties should be
\ngiven 60 percent of the special autonomy funds while the
\nprovincial administration should receive the remaining 40
\npercent, because a bigger part of development activities and
\npublic service is carried out in the regencies and
\nmunicipalities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Tampubolon, a member of the House of Representatives from the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said
\nfurther that a major part of the 2002 special autonomy funds was
\nheld by the provincial administration, hence many development
\nprojects in the fiscal year were left unfinished \"and many new
\ncars belonging to officials appeared in the provincial capital,
\nlikely acquired through corruption\".<\/p>\n
\"This means that Papua's autonomous status has not improved
\npeople's welfare and most people remain poor and are watching the
\nlocal political elite who are leading an extravagant lifestyle,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the regent's call, secretary of the provincial
\nadministration Decky Asmuruf said that so far, the central
\ngovernment had disbursed only 15 percent, or Rp 230 billion, of
\nthe Rp 1.5 trillion special autonomy fund, causing a delay in a
\nbigger part of development projects included in the province's
\n2003 budget.<\/p>\n
Regarding the distribution of the fund, Decki said it had been
\nagreed upon between the provincial administration and the
\nregencies and mayoralties.<\/p>\n
\"The provincial administration receives a higher portion
\nbecause the autonomous administration is concentrated at the
\nprovincial level and, therefore, most development projects are
\ncarried out by the provincial administration,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He added that as of next year, the fiscal balance would be
\nregulated by the provincial administration and the finance
\nministry.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/distribute-autonomy-funds-fairly-papuan-regent-1447893297",
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