Govt to give US$1.4bn to Papua, what to do?
Despite critics from parliament over a partial solution from central government with the plan to disburse US$1.4 billion to Papuan, I have to congratulate the president for his immediate response to the issue of fairer share of the region's exploited resources.
This is not a kind of generosity of central government. Papua deserved it, and may be higher than US$1.4bn if central government conduct a comprehensive audit on all its income from the region.
But what's next?
Well, considering the amount the Papuan normally gets in the past, US$1.4bn is a huge sum of money to spend. Without proper plan of how to spend, I'm afraid the money would go up in the smoke, just like in the past.
If I were the governor of Papua or West Irian Jaya, I'll put education on top of the list of spending, followed by health and infrastructure development, and good governance. Some might suggest Papuan to use the money to buy 10% shares of copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia. But I don't think this is a wise choice.
Education, health, and infrastructure are the most important issues to be tackled to improve Papuan standard of living. Don't expect a quick fix. Good governance is paramount to combat rampat corruption at the local administration level in the spending of such a huge fund.
Improving the quality of life is not just about economic issue. Central government should seriously handle social issues, especially regarding identity or culture oppression, and military issues to stop further oppression.
This is not a kind of generosity of central government. Papua deserved it, and may be higher than US$1.4bn if central government conduct a comprehensive audit on all its income from the region.
But what's next?
Well, considering the amount the Papuan normally gets in the past, US$1.4bn is a huge sum of money to spend. Without proper plan of how to spend, I'm afraid the money would go up in the smoke, just like in the past.
If I were the governor of Papua or West Irian Jaya, I'll put education on top of the list of spending, followed by health and infrastructure development, and good governance. Some might suggest Papuan to use the money to buy 10% shares of copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia. But I don't think this is a wise choice.
Education, health, and infrastructure are the most important issues to be tackled to improve Papuan standard of living. Don't expect a quick fix. Good governance is paramount to combat rampat corruption at the local administration level in the spending of such a huge fund.
Improving the quality of life is not just about economic issue. Central government should seriously handle social issues, especially regarding identity or culture oppression, and military issues to stop further oppression.
Labels: FREEPORT, Infrastructure
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posted by yosef at 7:09 AM
2 Comments:
Great comment. Buying Freeport shares definitely not a very smart move to make. Education is the thing money can buy.. that is if people have long view of things. Which I am not quite sure is the case, anywhere in Indonesia. Considering that even in national level education is not deemed important, just look at the budget cut, I am sure that further away from the capital, the same view apply.
What a pity
agree with your post...will it actually happen that way? what do you think? who would be 'strong' enough to put some discipline into what's best for the people...from that spending money?
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