Papua split would lead to corruption: Analysts<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The decision to split Papua into three smaller provinces will
\nonly benefit a few wealthy people and increase corruption among
\npublic officials who do not have the support of the Papuan
\npeople, analysts said.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a seminar here on Wednesday, Iman Sugema of the
\nInstitute for the Development of Economics and Finance (Indef),
\nformer Papua governor Barnabas Suebu and a lecturer at
\nSatyawacana University in Salatiga, Stephen Kakisina, suggested
\nthat the government delay the decision.<\/p>\n
"With this kind of pressure from the central government,
\nunprepared people and new local administrations, there will be
\n'lavish parties' for new local governments and big, questionable
\nprojects for rich businessmen," Barnabas said.<\/p>\n
He said the split would be feasible only when Papua had
\nsufficient human resources, maturity in social and cultural
\ninteraction, and steady economic growth.<\/p>\n
Stephen said that despite the province's rich natural
\nresources, at least 80 percent of Papua's population of 2.3
\nmillion struggled just to meet their daily needs.<\/p>\n
"Do not force through the division now, otherwise people could
\nbe marginalized and left out of the process of development," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Jan. 27 decree No.
\n1\/2003 dividing Papua into the provinces of Papua, Central Papua
\nand West Papua.<\/p>\n
The decree contradicts Law No. 21\/2001 on special autonomy for
\nPapua, particularly Article 76, which states that any policy
\naffecting Papuans must be approved by the Papuan People's
\nAssembly.<\/p>\n
However, the assembly has not yet been established and Jakarta
\ninsists that the division must go forward.<\/p>\n
The Papuan administration, fully backed by the provincial
\nlegislature, has set up a joint team to study any possible legal
\nflaws in the presidential decree and to file a judicial review
\nwith the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
Iman and Stephen shared the views of Barnabas.<\/p>\n
Iman questioned the effectiveness of the two new provinces,
\nsaying they would lack popular support and did not offer any
\nconcrete development programs for Papuans.<\/p>\n
"Where will the state's funds goes then?" he asked.<\/p>\n
Papua's budget was set at Rp 2.99 trillion (US$332 million)
\nfor the current fiscal year, including special autonomy aid of Rp
\n1.53 trillion.<\/p>\n
Stephen said the central government should commit itself to
\nstrengthening Papua and improving the welfare of the people
\nbefore splitting the province.<\/p>\n
The current provincial government should concentrate on
\nproviding food, better education, adequate health care and
\nempowering economic institutions, the panelists said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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