Inequality and poverty are potential time bombs in Papua<\/p>\n
That Papua is one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia is
\nbeyond dispute, but what is less known to date is the deep
\ndisparity that exists there.<\/p>\n
The IFES public opinion survey found disparities not simply
\nbetween urban and rural, which is not that unusual in Indonesia,
\nbut also between indigenous Papuans and migrants (which today
\nmake up more than 40 percent of the population), and also between
\nthe major tribes in the province.<\/p>\n
The survey looked at various social and economic indicators in
\nthe province, from access to education and health, to the means
\nof transportations and the economic conditions of the 2.3 million
\npopulation.<\/p>\n
The disparities found are potential social time bombs that
\ncould explode, lest the government in Jakarta and the Papuan
\ncapital of Jayapura, quickly moved to redress them.<\/p>\n
The gross inequalities in Papua found in the survey should
\nalso serves as a warning to Jakarta to rethink about its plan to
\nsplit Papua into three provinces. That is, unless the government
\nin Jakarta had other than the well-being of the Papuan people in
\nmind.<\/p>\n
The Papuan problem is already in a state of mess as it is
\nwithout the government complicating it by dividing the territory
\ninto three parts, which would only exacerbate the existing
\ndivisions revealed by the survey.<\/p>\n
At first glance, the state of education in Papua did not look
\nall that bad. School participation, for example, is 85 percent on
\naverage.<\/p>\n
But of those going to school, one third misses class from time
\nto time, according to the survey.<\/p>\n
The main reason for missing out on school is lack of finances,
\nbut \"need to help at home\" and lack of transportation are
\npotentially other major problems. (Table 5).<\/p>\n
Three in four (74 percent) students walk to school, and for
\nindigenous Papuans, the incidence of walking to school is even
\nhigher at 82 percent.<\/p>\n
Poverty in other words, has a lot to do with the poor rate of
\nschool attendance among Papuan children.<\/p>\n
Ignorance about school extends to parents, many of whom were
\nnot aware that school fees for elementary and high school would
\nsoon be dropped.<\/p>\n
Again the disparity between tribes makes compelling study.<\/p>\n
.tb0.1\" 1.0\" 2.0\" 2.5\" 3.2\" 4.0\" 4.6\" 5.4\" 6.0\"
\nTable 5. What is the main reason for not attending school?<\/p>\n
Lani\/Dani Yaly Asmat Marind Biak Sentani Moi Baham<\/p>\n
Financial
\nconstraints 65 83 99 76 43 39 39 67 Need
\nto help
\nout at home 16 8 0 12 0 17 32 3
\nLack of transport 15 8 0 0 39 0 18 10<\/p>\n
Too far away 0 0 0 8 13 17 0 7
\n Source: Public Opinion Survey Papua Indonesia, IFES<\/p>\n
On health issues, the IFES survey found that for most Papuans,
\ngoing to puskesmas (the community health center) is the only
\nchoice in seeking medical treatment in the apparent lack of
\nhospital and doctor's services.<\/p>\n
Malaria is widespread, but to a lesser extent in the
\nmountaineous areas around Wamena, according to the survey. On
\naverage, 77 percent of all Papuans have had at least one
\nhousehold member contracting malaria in the last 12 months. For
\nsome indigenous tribes, the incidence is significantly higher, up
\nto more than 90 percent in some cases. (Table 6)<\/p>\n
Table 6. Have you or any member of your household suffered from
\nany of these diseases in the past 12 months?<\/p>\n
Lani\/Dani Yaly Asmat Marind Biak Sentani Moi Baham<\/p>\n
Malaria 35 67 96 68 96 79 84 89<\/p>\n
Digestion<\/p>\n
system 16 35 1 21 0 2 21 2<\/p>\n
Respiratory<\/p>\n
system 5 15 10 13 2 5 15 5<\/p>\n
Dengue 7 8 19 4 1 2 18 0<\/p>\n
Other<\/p>\n
disease 0 3 0 5 1 4 3 1
\nDisease
\nunknown 33 26 3 10 0 1 2 2
\nNever
\nbeen ill 37 18 4 20 4 19 8 11
\nSource: Public Opinion Survey Papua, IFES<\/p>",
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