http://qr.ae/TUpnsv
Why is West Papua more advanced and developed than PNG or any Melanesian countries?
Wirawan Winarto, has visited 58 countries and all 34 Indonesian provinces
Answered Jul 20, 2017
Thanks for the A2A,
Fachat Maulana!
Contrary to popular belief and what Western trying media tell us,
West Papua is always the top priority for Indonesian government since the fall of dictator Soeharto in 1998. While The West is still dwelling in the past, thinking Papua as the land of genocide (just like pre-1998), Indonesia has been moving forward in a very fast pace.
In the past ten years, West Papua enjoy
average 8.3% economic growth, greater than most other Indonesian provinces. Even some regencies like Intan Jaya enjoyed more than
25.0% annual economic growth. The city of Jayapura, for example, is already catching up with other Indonesian provincial capitals.
The reason why
West Papua is developed so fast, leaving all their Melanesian counterparts behind is also because of
the conflicts are no more. In the past, conflicts are happened in large scale, but today most people are content with the special autonomy and with the full-support from Indonesian government in terms of infrastructure development and
taking care of people’s needs. In the past year, there are less than five people killed in remaining small tribal clashes in this world’s second largest island.
This is much less than the number of people killed in traffic accidents there.
I was staying with
Marind people (one of large Papuan ethnic) in southern parts of West Papua, they were quite happy with their life now, they were inviting me for a tribal party, that’s why they brought a lot of banana. They told me precisely, “
I don’t understand why those people want independence. I think they just want to be in power. Our life is getting much better now. If we are independent, what those freedom fighters can give us? None, I believe. ”
West Papuan are also getting
far much better education than their Melanesian brothers. Many teachers from Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara are sent into the deep hinterland, teaching the kids to read, write, and math. This village near Merauke are now being the center of fishery, the kids are learning how to process fish and selling them to the town market.
In the past, West Papuan are mostly primitive, lived by hunting and gathering. In today’s world, they are
catching up with the world, practicing skills like trading and handcrafting. Indonesian government also build
Pasar Mama Mama Papuatraditional market to enable them grow their own economy.
West Papuan is now also
flooding the job market. I met Simon, who told me he got scholarship from Indonesian government for higher education five years ago and now an officer in
National Search and Rescue Team (SAR). With its young Papuans entering huge job market, becoming civil servants, plantation workers, headmasters, and even flight attendants, their economy is snow-balling.
One thing I don’t understand is why Australia wants them to
remain backwards.
Yes,
Seriously?
The third aspect (aside from less conflict and better education) is the full support from Indonesian central government. This year alone,
the central government pledged Rp 80 trillion (USD 7 billion) for West Papua. Ten percent of the fund is used to build infrastructure, to connect the much isolated villages with roads, railways, modern airports, and modern harbours.
This is the Mopah Airport in Merauke, a town that was considered as remote.
Merauke is pretty much thriving town. Once it was remote town, today it has big harbours, self-sufficient in food production, and since 2017, they begin exporting food (cassava, rice, sago) to Papua New Guinea.
There are also hundreds of churches are being built in West Papua. For example, this is a white-marble church in the deep hinterland of Puncak Mountain. This is just one among hundreds in the once unreachable places. These churches often invite preachers from Toraja or Manado.
Also this once quiet village has their own coffee industry. It is one
high-quality Arabica, if you want to support them :
Kopi Papua, Kopi Wamena
All across West Papua, the situation is now changing.
In the coastal town, Nabire,West Papuan people are now exporting their “exotic” handicraft. This lady wearing traditional costume, opening a small shop selling handicrafts.
Things change because they are supported and they feel they are supported.
“
Wow…. we get Rp 3.386 trillion for our villages in Papua” (Tabloid Jubi is a local newspaper). To see what West Papuan needs and wants, you need to meet them, visit them, and talk to them, instead of relying what biased media tell you.
The non-existent conflict, the better educated workforce, and full-support from central government are the reasons
why West Papua is much more developedthan their Melanesian brothers.
Granted, there are still a lot of work to do. But they are getting better.
You cannot give people “democracy and freedom” and tell them to live happily while they just watch world is leaving them far behind.
This is one thing that Asians understand that The West never understand.
