Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The 2001 law on special autonomy has been implemented over last seven years in Papua, but its journey has lacked clear direction, a discussion concludes.

The conclusion was reached at a recent discussion held between Papua legislative council Commission A and the media in Jayapura titled "Predictions on the Condition of Papua 25 Years after Special Autonomy".

"We are walking without a course, without clear direction and without any goals," said Commission A member Yance Kayame. The ad-hoc implementation of special autonomy, said Yance, was due to the provincial administration's lack of strategic planning over the last 25 years. Policies, therefore, have been temporary and incidental in nature.

"We don't have any long-term goals," he said. "We are still walking without clear direction."

The positive changes gained since the implementation of special autonomy includes provincial budget increment, the development of various sectors and a stronger sense of belonging among indigenous people, Lance said.

However, many issues still need to be properly addressed including adequate access to education, health services, basic nutrition, housing and public infrastructure.

On top of that, the provincial and special ordinances, which are regarded as the key mechanisms for implementing the 2001 law, have not yet been approved by the Papua legislative council.

"Policies will become partial and sporadic given the lack of provincial and special ordinances," ICS Papua director Budi Setyanto told The Jakarta Post in Jayapura recently.

He said the implementation of the Rural Development Scheme (Respek), which provides each village with Rp 100 million (US$11,000), lacked standards with villages individually interpreting the program. "Respek is not supported by a basic implementation strategy. It should be regulated by the special or provincial ordinances in order to have clear definitions."

Another problem, Budi said, was the autonomy issue. Currently, the separation issue is topical in Papua, with some people in favor of separation, while others are against it, he said.

The provincial ordinance, he said, should incorporate a time span for provinces or regencies to flourish into autonomous regions, their reasons to become one and the terms for autonomy.

"People will be more aware and will not arbitrarily ask for autonomy status if there are effective guidelines."

The delay in approving the special and provincial ordinances, said Budi, was both the executive and legislative bodies' mistake. Both institutions should have prioritized the issue, but they had focussed more on political issues such as direct leadership election and separation.

The people themselves have not been persistent in urging the government to enact the ordinances because they think that with all the money being disbursed by the government the special autonomy issue has ended, Budi said.

"It's in the mind-set of our people. They are not aggressive despite the importance of the ordinances. How can we implement special autonomy effectively without guidelines?"

Papua legislative speaker John Ibo said the council had passed 23 draft special and provincial ordinances in May.

"Actually, we were ready to approve them last year, but their approval was impeded by the governor's policy of establishing an ordinance probing team. Everything has been prepared. We are only waiting for approval," Ibo told the Post.