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| (Ilustasi Foto www.sinar merdeka.com) |
By:Fransiskus Pekey
The
barometer of the economic progress and the level of welfare of the
native West Papuans during the implementation of Special Autonomy must
be clear.
Some
evidence must be provided in order to show the economic improvement of
the native West Papuans. Do we see the native West Papuans trading and
shopping in the big new shopping centers and luxury buildings? NO, we
see native West Papuans on the street with banana leaves covering their
goods in front of Yasmin Hotel and Gelael Shopping Center in the center
of Jayapura town.
Where
is the evidence of economic progress of the native West Papuans during
Special Autonomy? If the picture of the economy of the native West
Papuans in town centers already showed terrible conditions such as the
picture described above, then, how can we think of the economy of the
native West Papuans who live behind the mountains, in the valleys, the
highlands and in the coastal areas which are far from towns? The measure
of economic progress of the native West Papuans should be viewed from
the rural areas and not from the urban areas.
However,
ironically the conditions in the towns are worse than in rural areas.
Workers inside shopping centers, banks, companies, hotels are 99% or
even almost 100% dominated by migrants. The native West Papuans are
really oppressed, suffering and are marginalized economically in their
own regions. Perhaps, the Indonesian government thought there is real
development because they associate the establishment of big buildings,
luxurious hotels and shopping centres as real development.
In
Jayapura, we can see supermarkets and shopping centres along the road
from Sentani to Jayapura. There seems to be rapid economic development
and progress. The question is, however, who is benefiting from this
development? Migrants or native West Papuans? (I urge you to look for
yourself at the Gelael Shopping Centre in Jayapura and make up your own
mind.) Do we want to regard the native West Papuans who sell their
agricultural products along the streets, outside the big shopping
centres and hotels such as Yasmin Hotel and Gelael Shopping Centre in
Jayapura as economic progress under Special Autonomy?
If
the picture described above of economy of the native West Papuans in
town centres already shows terrible conditions, then, how can we think
of the economy of the native West Papuans who live behind the mountains,
in the valleys, the highlands and in coastal areas which are far from
towns? Workers inside shopping centres, banks, companies, hotels are 99%
or even almost 100% dominated by migrants. Who are the owners of the
shops, supermarkets, and the top shopping centres? Who are the workers
inside the shopping centres? Where are the native West Papuans who were
removed from their customary lands when their lands were taken for
supermarkets and shopping centres? The native West Papuans are really
oppressed and marginalized economically in their own regions.
The
Special Autonomy law 21/2001 has brought disaster to the native West
Papuans on their own land. During the Special Autonomy era many top
hotels have been built in West Papua. The luxury buildings were built in
a very short time, only within 5 to 9 months.
This
repeats the question of whether the construction of top hotels shows
the progress and development of the native West Papuans? Who owns the
hotel? Who works at the hotel? How much money did the native West
Papuans have as compensations for their land that has been used for
hotel constructions? Where have the native West Papuans been moved to in
order to survive? As a result of the above conditions, the native West
Papuans have lost everything and their future is dark in their own
country. Those who have power over the economy in West Papua are
predominantly migrants. They are fully protected and facilitated by the
Indonesian military and police.
Writter is Free Pcy live in Manado city (Anak Pinggiran)
By : www.umaginews.com
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