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The Economy and welfare Not Solution For The people Of Papua

(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)
 
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