Risk Intelligence (25/02/2021) Indonesia
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PAPUAN COMMUNITIES PROTEST AGAINST EXTENSION OF SPECIAL AUTONOMY
Papuan communities across Indonesia continue to stage demonstrations against the extension of the province’s special autonomy (Otsus) ahead of its expiry at the end of the year. Activists and students gathered outside the Ministry of Home Affairs in Central Jakarta yesterday to demand that the government not extend Otsus on the grounds that it has not improved the welfare of Papuans.
The protesters argued that the implementation of Otsus is politically motivated, and that the central government should focus on the development of healthcare and education in the province without the need for special autonomy. Tensions at the demonstration escalated when a group of counter protesters arrived and attempted to disperse the crowd before police stepped in to separate the groups.
Demonstrations against the extension of Otsus were also held in Bandung (West Java), Pontianak (West Kalimantan) and Malang (East Java) on 23 February.
In Papua, thousands of people marched to the Dogiyai Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) on 22 February to call on local legislators to reject the extension of Otsus and the central government’s plan to establish a new province of Central Papua.
Hill & Associates Assessment (Indonesia)
There is growing opposition within Papuan communities against the extension of Otsus, with a number of demonstrations held by activists and students in major cities. Protesters clashed with police at rallies in Jayapura and Mimika (Papua) as well as in Manokwari (West Papua) late last year.
The protest movement argues that Otsus has failed to bring about significant change in Papua, and some are using the expiry of Otsus funding to push for an independence referendum.
Demonstrations this week followed a meeting between the Papua Regional Leaders Forum (Forkada) and the Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, at which the leaders demanded an investigation into allegations of corruption related to Otsus funds.
Earlier this month, the National Police Security Intelligence Agency (Baintelkam) revealed that the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had found IDR2 trillion (USD142.5 million) in budget irregularities relating to the Otsus program. Baintelkam said that some of the misuse allegedly involved marking up local government contracts. Papuan leaders demanded legal action against public officials allegedly involved in the corruption of Otsus funds.
A number of officials from the Papua provincial administration and the Papua Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) were implicated in the case. Mahfud MD said that an investigation is being conducted by police, along with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Attorney’s General Office (AGO).
Protests against the extension of Otsus are likely to intensify in Papua and other regions over the coming months as legislators in the House of Representatives (DPR) discuss a government proposal on the extension of Otsus that includes an increase in funding from 2 to 2.5 percent of the general allocation fund for regions in the state budget (APBN).
In 2001, the administration of then president Megawati Soekarnoputri passed a law on special autonomy in Papua and West Papua to guarantee Papuans the right to manage their own regions.
The law also stipulated the allocation of special autonomy funds, valid for 20 years. As the transfer of funds will end in 2021, the DPR has included the extension of special autonomy on this year’s National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).