The Devolution of Authority in Indonesia: The Case of Papua

Cordially invites you to an Open Forum Event

The Devolution of Authority in Indonesia:
The Case of Papua

with

Mr. Velix Vernando Wanggai
Special Staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia
on Regional Development and Regional Autonomy

Tuesday, December 10
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

USINDO Conference Room

1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Suite 550
Washington, DC 20036

Indonesia’s far-reaching program of decentralization has transferred real power, authority, and funding from the central government to local governments, substantially enhancing regional and local autonomy.  Regencies (kabupaten) and municipalities (kota) can enhance the welfare of local people, establish and implement local policies, tax and budget,  and develop their area.

Papua was granted “special autonomy” (“otonomi khusus“), as was Aceh, Jakarta, and Yogyakarta.  Under President SBY, the central government gave the Governor of Papua and the Papuan People’s Assembly (Majelis Rakyat Papua) — a legislative body unique to Papua — the opportunity to revise the law on special autonomy.  A proposal of enhanced special autonomy (otonomi khusus plus), under the umbrella of “asymmetric decentralization”, emerged after President SBY and Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe met in April 2013.

To inform us of current developments regarding Papua, USINDO is pleased to welcome Mr. Velix Wanggai, Special Staff to the President of the Republic of Indonesia on Regional Development and Regional Autonomy — an expert in regional development policy, sustainable development, and asymmetric autonomy.  Mr. Wanggai will discuss the implementation of the decentralization process, challenges associated with the devolution of central authority in Papua, and thoughts on how the prosperity of the Papuan people can be enhanced.

Please join us for this informative event.

This event is open and free of charge. To register, please kindly RSVP HERE by noon December 9, 2013.