West Papua Update

Standards of living in Papua increase

Standards of living in Papua have continuously risen during the past 13 years, according to the Papua Office of the Central Statistics Agency. Between 1999 and 2011, the agency known as the BPS said the number of people in poverty in Papua decreased by 23.51 percent, from 54.75 percent in March 1999 to 31.24 percent in September 2011. The BPS claimed the Indonesian government’s policy of special autonomy was behind the improving figures.  Between 2002 and 2010, the central government disbursed Rp 28.1 trillion to Papua. Although not all funding has been filtered down to the people and areas that really need them, policy is changing for the better development of Papua.  The Indonesian government is concentrating on infrastructure in Papua where it is badly needed and the progression of constructive communication with the Papuan people, including non-governmental institutions and regional heads in implementing action plans, monitoring for speedier development. The Indonesian government has stepped up in Papua with the progression of development and is acting as an accelerating force in the region. There is still, however, a long way to go.