Through the Book 'Menuju Timika yang Menyala', Alfian Akbar Dissects Papua's Special Autonomy Policy

Young figure and politician from Mimika Regency, Alfian Akbar Balyanan, has launched his latest intellectual work titled ‘Menuju Timika yang Menyala’ (Towards a Flaming Timika). The book launch served as a public discourse platform to evaluate the implementation of the Special Autonomy (Otsus) policy and the direction of development in Papua. Alfian explained that the book is the result of a critical analysis he has compiled since 2018, addressing economic inequality, humanitarian issues, and the state’s affirmative policies. ‘Papua is at a crossroads today. The state has provided a foundation through Special Autonomy as an instrument of affirmation and empowerment. However, after more than two decades, we still see various structural problems that must be resolved together,’ he asserted. The book dissects six strategic issues, including a political and legal review of Otsus, the push for bureaucratic reform for transparent governance, the importance of legal aid services for grassroots communities, the maturation of democratic consolidation in Mimika, and an analysis of the economic impact of regional expansion strategies. The launch event was attended by Mimika DPRK member Dominggus Kapiyau and academic Habelino Seradora Sawaki, and was witnessed directly by the Head of the Mimika Youth and Sports Office, Yohanis Michael Yanwarin, along with other local government officials.