Pastor George Sorontouw: New Autonomous Region Brings a Better Future for Papua

With the birth of the three new autonomous regions bills in Papua, it is also beneficial, because there will be many financial regulations that will come down to the Papuan people themselves.

KABARPAPUA.CO, Jayapura City – The Chair of the Synod of the Nazarene Christian Church (GKN) as well as the General Secretary of the Jayapura District Communion of Churches (PGGJ), Reverend George Sorontouw, M.Th conveyed the message of Easter to Christians in Papua. Jesus Christ came to earth to bring peace and tranquility, as in John 10 verse 10. “I have come to give you life full of abundance”.

People who have a peaceful heart will also help him to live outwardly. Therefore, Easter must be interpreted not to build enmity between every different human being, because Jesus Christ does not bring enmity.

Meanwhile, he responded to 3 Draft Laws (RUU) for New Autonomous Regions (DOB) in Papua to become DPR initiative bills. Namely the Bill on the Establishment of the South Papua Province, the Bill on the Establishment of the Central Papua Province, and the Bill on the Establishment of the Central Highlands Papua Province on April 12, 2022.

He explained that with the birth of the 3 new autonomous regions Bills in Papua, they naturally brought benefits and urgency for a better future for Papua, especially in the seven customary areas in Papua, namely Tabi/Mamta, Saereri, Mee Pago, La Pago and Animha. .

“The Tabi Saereri customary area let the Tabi Saereri people lead themselves. In the traditional areas of Mee Pago and La Pago let the Mee Pago and La Pago people lead themselves. Likewise, the Animha customary area, let the Animha lead themselves and so on,” explained Sorontouw.

With the birth of the three new autonomous regions bills in Papua, it is also beneficial, because there will be many financial regulations that will come down to the Papuan people themselves. “The problem today is how Papuans respond to these blessings,” he explained.

He hopes that with the execution of the new autonomous regions in Papua, an Implementing Regulation (PP) will be created, which will back it up, so that there are no mistakes, as in the last 25 years, which caused suspicion and conflict everywhere, as if the Papuan people had never accepted it. special autonomy funds,” he explained.

He also mentioned that the Otsus funds allocated by the central government to the Papuan government were more than sufficient since Otsus was born in 2002.

“When I see the Minister of Finance talking about it, we are very embarrassed by the large amount of money, but Papuans have lived like this to this day,” he said.

According to him, with just one province he can revive dozens of districts/cities in Papua.
“What if tomorrow it blooms into four, where three have bloomed, plus this one parent becomes four. This means that one province will manage approximately 10 districts,” he said.

He kept on praying, struggling and encouraging people to always be grateful for God’s blessings sent through the central government. This is truly interpreted, so that Papuans can become masters over their own country.

Papua Special Autonomy Fund

Meanwhile, the Chair of the Synod of the Nazarene Christian Church (GKN) Reverend George Sorontouw, M.Th, proposed that the Special Autonomy Volume 2 funds be distributed directly to every Papuan Orang Asli (OAP).

“I agree more, if Otsus funds are given per head of OAP, so that they can understand Otsus like this. This is the central government’s alignment with OAP,” explained the Chair of the GKN Synod, Pastor George Sorontou, M.TH.

Pastor George Sorontouw, M.Th explained that his party agreed to implement Otsus Volume 2, but the central government should change the distribution system for Otsus funds, which in Otsus Volume 1 was managed by local governments, so that during the implementation of Otsus Volume 2 it was distributed directly to each individual OAP.

“What is the total Otsus fund each year, multiplied by the number of OAP residents and what are their rights,” he explained.
“If the Special Autonomy funds were to go to the government, maybe they could arrange something more systematic. Will it go down per family, per head or start from the village. So people don’t say it’s another practice to play another game,” he said.

The distribution of Otsus funds is not only the responsibility of the regional government, but also the responsibility of the central government.

“The central government is also backing up, so they can find out where the Otsus funds went and where they fell. Sometimes what happens is that money buys money or like the contents of a fork on the way, it falls on a new road in Jakarta, imagine getting to Papua, just a drop in front,” he said.

“That’s what you should also respect, if that’s the right of the Papuan people, give it in full, so that OAP can also feel the Otsus funds. OAP’s hope today is that Otsus is not just a promise, but must be practiced or realized,” he explained.

According to him, since West Irian entered the fold of the Republic of Indonesia, there have actually been promises from the Indonesian Fathers or The Founding Fathers, so that Papua will be given more attention.

“If the Otsus funds can be dropped and allocated, for the benefit of OAP, because in this way, it will be more helpful than the Otsus funds in the government and it is not clear where they go, what to do, what to do and all kinds of things,” he said.

Pastor George is also grateful and invites all Papuan people to interpret God’s blessing.

“I am grateful and also as a people who maintain tolerance of religious communities, no less important thing must be considered besides the acceleration of development, Special Autonomy Volume 2 and the Plan for the expansion of the new autonomous region is to keep people living in peace in Papua,” Closed Pastor George Sorontouw, M.Th. *** (Adv)

Source: Kabar Papua