2) Awaiting endgame for Papua, West Papua's lingering problems
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Papua province is not only rich in natural resources, it is also home to countless diverse and unique cultures.
https://en.antaranews.com/news/176450/preserving-papuas-iconic-tifa
1) Preserving Papua's iconic Tifa
https://en.antaranews.com/news/176450/preserving-papuas-iconic-tifa
1) Preserving Papua's iconic Tifa
12th June 2021
Though, like several traditional Indonesian percussion instruments, the Tifa produces music when struck, what makes it stand out is its close association with folklore and verbal traditions, which has helped preserve its legacy over the years. And lately, it has gained economic value, too. (ANTARA/Muhsidin)
Among Papua’s signature cultural symbols is a traditional music instrument called Tifa, whose name has become synonymous with the province.
Papua, which has seen much infrastructure development over the years, has already embraced modernization in several aspects of life. Yet, the legacy of the Tifa has remained protected to this day.
In the simplest terms, Tifa is a percussion instrument. Though it produces music when struck, like several traditional Indonesian instruments, what makes Tifa stand out is its close association with folklore and verbal traditions.
Different tribes have passed on their own myths and stories on the origins of the Tifa. According to one version prevalent in Biak, the instrument was first wrought by an orphaned boy from the village. As the story goes, the boy had been invited to a party, which every villager had been asked to attend.
As was custom then, all the villagers attending the party had to bring something from home. This saddened the boy, who did not have anything to bring.
It was while he was walking in the forest thinking about this that he chanced upon a lizard, who was striking his stomach and producing a sound very similar to a percussion instrument. When the lizard asked him why he looked unhappy, the boy told him of his predicament.
The lizard told the boy to take its skin, burn it on a staff, then cut it in a circular pattern, and mount it on a piece of wood. He told the boy the instrument thus fashioned would produce a unique and distinctive sound when struck repeatedly.
The boy followed his advice and played the instrument at the party. When one of the Tribal Chiefs asked him what he was playing, the boy said it was a “sreb”.
From that day on, the people of Biak call the Tifa a sreb. The story illustrates how the Tifa is deeply-entrenched in the history of the Papuan people.
In the modern era, the story may sound too much like a myth, but it's the very belief and appreciation of the story that has prompted Papuans to preserve the Tifa for a very long time now.
According to the head of the Tourism Department of Jayapura, Chris K. Tokoro, the Tifa is not an instrument that can be played by just anyone. It serves a specific purpose, he said.
The Tifa is commonly played during traditional rituals, welcoming guests, and even as a war cry, he explained.
Traditionally, the Tifa has mainly been played by men, in keeping with traditional teachings about gender roles in Papua, which require men to lead women in all aspects of life. Compliance with gender roles is seen as a way to respect and honor ancestral values by Papuans.
But, in certain regions, such as Raja Ampat Islands, many women have been seen playing the Tifa.
In Papua, another notable occasion when the Tifa is played is Sing-sing, when various tribes gather to showcase their respective cultures.
These gatherings are held in order to exchange knowledge of their traditions so they can learn from one another. This demonstrates the Tifa’s power to bring Papuans together.
What further differentiates Tifa from percussion instruments found in other areas is the patterns it has on the sides. These patterns or symbols have specific ethnic and spiritual meanings and represent stories about natural life in Papua, and also the gratitude the Tifa makers feel about the blessings they have received in life.
The Tifa is very commonly used by various tribes in Papua — Mali Anim, Biak, Sentani, Teminabuan, and many more. Each tribe has its own kind and name of Tifa.
The Tifa is called “eme” by the Asmat people, “Kalin Kla” in Teminabuan, “Wachu" in Sentani, “Sirep” or “Sandio” in Biak, and “Kandara” by the Mali Anim people.
The people of Papua are not only preserving the Tifa as a symbol of their culture, but also developing a way to make it a financially beneficial item to sell.
The Tifa is thus playing an important role in the economy of Papua. Many Papuans produce Tifa in large numbers for sale. The instrument is sold at different price ranges, depending on the complexity of the patterns, the materials used, and duration of the sound produced.
This economic value is also expected to guarantee the longevity of the Tifa in Papua. Therefore, Papuan elders are asking the youth to stay true to their culture in an effort to protect the legacy of the Tifa and pass it on for generations to come.
The provincial government of Papua has passed regulations, which clearly state that all intellectual property rights owned by the indigenous people of Papua are protected by law.
The regulations are expected to serve as a solid legal foundation for preserving the Tifa for the foreseeable future.
Related news: 1000 tifa echo beats to enliven Lake Sentani Festival
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2) Awaiting endgame for Papua, West Papua's lingering problems
22 hours ago
The Papua special autonomy law which has paved the way for significant amounts of funds to flow into Papua and West has been in force for almost 20 years.
This Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 will expire in November 2021. Therefore, the bill for amending it is being deliberated at the House of Representatives (DPR).
To meet the deadline, the House members have listed it as one of dozens of their priority bills in this year's National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
The Finance Ministry data showed that during the implementation of the Papua special autonomy law, the government has disbursed Rp138.65 trillion for Papua and West Papua's special autonomy funds and additional funds for infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile,the total amounts of regional transfer and village funds the government had disturbed to the two provinces from 2002 to 2021 were recorded at Rp702.3 trillion, according to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo.
Apart from the flow of the central government's significant amounts of funds into Papua and West Papua, the two provinces still struggle to improve the quality of their human capital as their scores in Indonesia's 2020 Human Development Index remained under the national average recorded at 71.94.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed that Papua and West Papua had recently scored 60.44 and 65.09 respectively on the 2020 Human Development Index. Their scores remained lower than that achieved by Aceh Province that stood at 71.94.
The BPS data released in February this year further showed that the poverty rates of Papua and West Papua were recorded at 26.8 percent and 21.7 percent respectively.
The development outcomes also remain inequitable for native Papuan communities as shown apparently by their low income level and lack of access to education and health services.
In the midst of this challenging reality, the government has hinted its intent to extend the allocation of special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua by another two decades to accelerate its endeavors to close the development gap and usher in prosperity for all communities in the region.
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo has drawn attention to several areas that require the government's attention once the Papua special autonomy law's renewal can have been completed prior to its expiry in November this year.
He has even echoed his demand that the renewal of Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 be able to solve problems lingering as the law has approached two decades in force.
"Evaluating the implementation of the special autonomy law on a regular basis, as mandated by the law's Article 78, is so indispensable. By doing so, we can assess its effectiveness, accountability, and outputs," he stated.
More importantly, the government and other related stakeholders will comprehend whether the government's granted special autonomy facilities have optimally brought positive impacts to the people at large in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
On June 10, 2021, Bambang Soesatyo held a virtual meeting with several representatives of the Papua provincial government, Papua legislative body, and MPR.
The meeting's attendees also comprised the Papua provincial government's secretary, Dance Yulian Flassy; Papua legislative body's speaker, Jhony Banua Rouw; Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) Speaker Timotius Murib; and MPR deputy speaker Syarif Hasan.
Soesatyo emphasized that the government's physical development approaches in Papua and West Papua by expediting infrastructure development programs; attracting more investment; and opening industrial areas, among others, are merely part of the essential elements of effective development.
However, the government should not overlook the human capital of these two easternmost provinces, he stated.
To address the remaining problems, the Papua Task Force of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has proposed a "reinstrumentation" of the Papuan special autonomy law owing to the complexity of the Papua issue.
Head of UGM's Papua Task Force, Bambang Purwoko, presented the proposal during a hearing session with members of the House of Representatives on June 3, 2021.
The proposed "reinstrumentation" covers three important points. The first point is related to the need to widen the special autonomy outreach to the level of district and city administrations.
"This improvement is significant to address the special autonomy issues which remain general in nature," Bambang Purwoko argued.
Due to wider outreach, the benefits of the special autonomy programs would be felt by the people at large, including those in villages, he added.
The second point of the UGM proposal is related to the arrangement of special autonomy funds to allow native Papuans to gain access to them.
Related news: Nemangkawi Task Force nabs Papuan separatist
Related news: Renewal of Papua special autonomy law must solve problems: MPR
In this regard, native Papuans can receive special autonomy funds through the so-called "Special Autonomy Fund Card".
The cards can be used by eligible recipients for meeting the needs for education, healthcare, as well as purchasing basic necessities, and building materials.
To achieve this, Bambang Purwoko highlighted the importance of coordinating and synergizing the use of village funds and ministries and government agencies' expenditures to meet the people's basic needs.
The third point is related to the need to make more specific regulations on expansion of provinces, cities, and districts in these Indonesia's easternmost provinces.
Regional expansion must be seen in the context of development acceleration strategies, improvement of public services, social welfare redistribution, respecting Papuan customs, and elevating native Papuans' dignity, he explained.
The House members who are currently striving to finish renewing the Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 are expected to consider this UGM's valuble input.
The government is indeed mandated by the State Constitution to ensure that Indonesian provinces, including Papua and West Papua, see more equitable development, distribution of wealth, and prosperity.
Related news: Preserving Papua's iconic Tifa
Related news: Thohir urges SOEs to empower students and women
This Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 will expire in November 2021. Therefore, the bill for amending it is being deliberated at the House of Representatives (DPR).
To meet the deadline, the House members have listed it as one of dozens of their priority bills in this year's National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
The Finance Ministry data showed that during the implementation of the Papua special autonomy law, the government has disbursed Rp138.65 trillion for Papua and West Papua's special autonomy funds and additional funds for infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile,the total amounts of regional transfer and village funds the government had disturbed to the two provinces from 2002 to 2021 were recorded at Rp702.3 trillion, according to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo.
Apart from the flow of the central government's significant amounts of funds into Papua and West Papua, the two provinces still struggle to improve the quality of their human capital as their scores in Indonesia's 2020 Human Development Index remained under the national average recorded at 71.94.
Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed that Papua and West Papua had recently scored 60.44 and 65.09 respectively on the 2020 Human Development Index. Their scores remained lower than that achieved by Aceh Province that stood at 71.94.
The BPS data released in February this year further showed that the poverty rates of Papua and West Papua were recorded at 26.8 percent and 21.7 percent respectively.
The development outcomes also remain inequitable for native Papuan communities as shown apparently by their low income level and lack of access to education and health services.
In the midst of this challenging reality, the government has hinted its intent to extend the allocation of special autonomy funds for Papua and West Papua by another two decades to accelerate its endeavors to close the development gap and usher in prosperity for all communities in the region.
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo has drawn attention to several areas that require the government's attention once the Papua special autonomy law's renewal can have been completed prior to its expiry in November this year.
He has even echoed his demand that the renewal of Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 be able to solve problems lingering as the law has approached two decades in force.
"Evaluating the implementation of the special autonomy law on a regular basis, as mandated by the law's Article 78, is so indispensable. By doing so, we can assess its effectiveness, accountability, and outputs," he stated.
More importantly, the government and other related stakeholders will comprehend whether the government's granted special autonomy facilities have optimally brought positive impacts to the people at large in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.
On June 10, 2021, Bambang Soesatyo held a virtual meeting with several representatives of the Papua provincial government, Papua legislative body, and MPR.
The meeting's attendees also comprised the Papua provincial government's secretary, Dance Yulian Flassy; Papua legislative body's speaker, Jhony Banua Rouw; Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) Speaker Timotius Murib; and MPR deputy speaker Syarif Hasan.
Soesatyo emphasized that the government's physical development approaches in Papua and West Papua by expediting infrastructure development programs; attracting more investment; and opening industrial areas, among others, are merely part of the essential elements of effective development.
However, the government should not overlook the human capital of these two easternmost provinces, he stated.
To address the remaining problems, the Papua Task Force of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) has proposed a "reinstrumentation" of the Papuan special autonomy law owing to the complexity of the Papua issue.
Head of UGM's Papua Task Force, Bambang Purwoko, presented the proposal during a hearing session with members of the House of Representatives on June 3, 2021.
The proposed "reinstrumentation" covers three important points. The first point is related to the need to widen the special autonomy outreach to the level of district and city administrations.
"This improvement is significant to address the special autonomy issues which remain general in nature," Bambang Purwoko argued.
Due to wider outreach, the benefits of the special autonomy programs would be felt by the people at large, including those in villages, he added.
The second point of the UGM proposal is related to the arrangement of special autonomy funds to allow native Papuans to gain access to them.
Related news: Nemangkawi Task Force nabs Papuan separatist
Related news: Renewal of Papua special autonomy law must solve problems: MPR
In this regard, native Papuans can receive special autonomy funds through the so-called "Special Autonomy Fund Card".
The cards can be used by eligible recipients for meeting the needs for education, healthcare, as well as purchasing basic necessities, and building materials.
To achieve this, Bambang Purwoko highlighted the importance of coordinating and synergizing the use of village funds and ministries and government agencies' expenditures to meet the people's basic needs.
The third point is related to the need to make more specific regulations on expansion of provinces, cities, and districts in these Indonesia's easternmost provinces.
Regional expansion must be seen in the context of development acceleration strategies, improvement of public services, social welfare redistribution, respecting Papuan customs, and elevating native Papuans' dignity, he explained.
The House members who are currently striving to finish renewing the Papua Special Autonomy Law No. 21 of 2001 are expected to consider this UGM's valuble input.
The government is indeed mandated by the State Constitution to ensure that Indonesian provinces, including Papua and West Papua, see more equitable development, distribution of wealth, and prosperity.
Related news: Preserving Papua's iconic Tifa
Related news: Thohir urges SOEs to empower students and women
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