Observer States Welfare Approach and Clean Governance are Key to Stability in Papua
Military and political analyst from the National University (UNAS), Selamat Ginting, assesses that Papua is currently a battlefield for a very complex political narrative. On one hand, the central government is demonstrating extraordinary commitment through massive fund injections and large-scale infrastructure development. On the other hand, the Free Papua Organisation (OPM) continues to attempt to delegitimise the state by attacking civilians and public facilities.
Based on collected data, the state budget commitment to advancing the ‘Land of the Cendrawasih’ is immense. From 2002 to 2026, the total Special Autonomy (Otsus) funds and Additional Infrastructure Funds (DTI) allocated for Papua have exceeded approximately Rp192.55 trillion. “These funds are used for education, health, community economic empowerment, as well as the development of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, electricity, telecommunications, sanitation, and opening access to remote areas,” said Selamat on Monday (18/5/2026).
Selamat revealed that the greatest obstacle on the ground is no longer the government’s political will, but rather security disturbances from the OPM. He believes this armed separatist group deliberately targets symbols of public service and humanity to sever the chain of the state’s presence in society. He cited the tragedy of the killing of PT Istaka Karya workers in Nduga in 2018, as well as a series of attacks on teachers, healthcare workers, the burning of schools and churches, and the recent killing of civilian pilots.
“From a military-political perspective, this condition shows that the Papua conflict is no longer just a classic separatist issue, but has evolved into a war for legitimacy and influence over the civilian population. The OPM, from the armed front, understands that infrastructure development and public services will strengthen the state’s legitimacy in the eyes of the Papuan people. Therefore, development projects and public service personnel are often targeted for attacks,” explained Selamat.
Responding to these tactics, Selamat believes the role of the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) through the Military Operations Other Than War (OMSP) doctrine is crucial. TNI personnel in the Papuan hinterlands are now focusing not only on combat operations but also on teaching in schools, providing access to clean water, offering free healthcare services, and assisting with village food security.
Beyond security factors, Selamat also highlighted a major irony regarding budget governance among local political elites in Papua. According to him, the trillions of rupiah poured from the State Budget (APBN) will never automatically prosper the grassroots community if practices of corruption and budget misuse by a handful of local elites are allowed to persist. This distribution gap is subsequently politicised and exploited by separatist groups as propaganda to claim that Jakarta has failed to develop Papua.
“The state is injecting very large sums of money, but the benefits have not been fully and evenly felt by the grassroots community. Some people continue to live with limitations in education, health, and economy. This situation is then utilised by separatist groups to build propaganda that the state has failed to be present in Papua,” he explained.
Selamat emphasised that resolving the conflict in Papua cannot be done partially, but must use a combination of three approaches simultaneously: massive development, security guarantees, and social justice. “Development without security will continue to be disrupted by armed conflict. Security without welfare will only give birth to new dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, welfare without clean governance will lead to corruption and inequality,” said Ginting.