Inequality and poverty are potential time bombs in Papua

That Papua is one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia is beyond dispute, but what is less known to date is the deep disparity that exists there.

The IFES public opinion survey found disparities not simply between urban and rural, which is not that unusual in Indonesia, but also between indigenous Papuans and migrants (which today make up more than 40 percent of the population), and also between the major tribes in the province.

The survey looked at various social and economic indicators in the province, from access to education and health, to the means of transportations and the economic conditions of the 2.3 million population.

The disparities found are potential social time bombs that could explode, lest the government in Jakarta and the Papuan capital of Jayapura, quickly moved to redress them.

The gross inequalities in Papua found in the survey should also serves as a warning to Jakarta to rethink about its plan to split Papua into three provinces. That is, unless the government in Jakarta had other than the well-being of the Papuan people in mind.

The Papuan problem is already in a state of mess as it is without the government complicating it by dividing the territory into three parts, which would only exacerbate the existing divisions revealed by the survey.

At first glance, the state of education in Papua did not look all that bad. School participation, for example, is 85 percent on average.

But of those going to school, one third misses class from time to time, according to the survey.

The main reason for missing out on school is lack of finances, but "need to help at home" and lack of transportation are potentially other major problems. (Table 5).

Three in four (74 percent) students walk to school, and for indigenous Papuans, the incidence of walking to school is even higher at 82 percent.

Poverty in other words, has a lot to do with the poor rate of school attendance among Papuan children.

Ignorance about school extends to parents, many of whom were not aware that school fees for elementary and high school would soon be dropped.

Again the disparity between tribes makes compelling study.

.tb0.1" 1.0" 2.0" 2.5" 3.2" 4.0" 4.6" 5.4" 6.0" Table 5. What is the main reason for not attending school?

Lani/Dani Yaly Asmat Marind Biak Sentani Moi Baham

Financial constraints 65 83 99 76 43 39 39 67 Need to help out at home 16 8 0 12 0 17 32 3 Lack of transport 15 8 0 0 39 0 18 10

Too far away 0 0 0 8 13 17 0 7 Source: Public Opinion Survey Papua Indonesia, IFES

On health issues, the IFES survey found that for most Papuans, going to puskesmas (the community health center) is the only choice in seeking medical treatment in the apparent lack of hospital and doctor's services.

Malaria is widespread, but to a lesser extent in the mountaineous areas around Wamena, according to the survey. On average, 77 percent of all Papuans have had at least one household member contracting malaria in the last 12 months. For some indigenous tribes, the incidence is significantly higher, up to more than 90 percent in some cases. (Table 6)

Table 6. Have you or any member of your household suffered from any of these diseases in the past 12 months?

Lani/Dani Yaly Asmat Marind Biak Sentani Moi Baham

Malaria 35 67 96 68 96 79 84 89

Digestion

system 16 35 1 21 0 2 21 2

Respiratory

system 5 15 10 13 2 5 15 5

Dengue 7 8 19 4 1 2 18 0

Other

disease 0 3 0 5 1 4 3 1 Disease unknown 33 26 3 10 0 1 2 2 Never been ill 37 18 4 20 4 19 8 11 Source: Public Opinion Survey Papua, IFES