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Abstract

The implementation of special autonomy regions is how the central government acknowledges the uniqueness and significant contributions of specific regions to Indonesia. The acknowledgment is then accommodated within special autonomy policies. Starting with Papua in 2001, there are eight provinces with special regions. Despite having a special autonomy status, those provinces may have more problems. The issues are mainly the historical root of integration with Indonesia, resource inequality, and the genuine representations of indigenous people as officeholders. These three issues have been common problems in Indonesia since the up-and-down relationship exists between the central government and those special autonomous regions. The unequal compensation in revenue transfer always becomes a hotbed that recalls the integration process with Indonesia long ago. In line with the previously mentioned problems, this paper aims to evaluate the policy performance of special autonomy policies in Aceh and Papua. Both regions are worth investigating because there are always disputed classical problems that disrupt national integrity. Most importantly, both regions have insurgency movements that force the central government to respond swiftly. Compared with other special autonomous regions, Aceh and Papua have been in a turbulent position with Jakarta for many decades. These fluctuating relationships show unresolved problems that are still ingrained in both regions. Following up on the mentioned problems briefly, this paper reveals that while special autonomy in Aceh technically has ended the long conflict, Papua still struggles with scattered conflict in some regions. These different results show the remaining challenges the special autonomy policy should deal with very soon.

Bahasa Abstract

Pelaksanaan otonomi khusus daerah pada dasarnya merupakan cara pemerintah pusat untuk mengakui keunikan dan kontribusi besar daerah tertentu bagi Indonesia. Pengakuan ini kemudian diakomodasi dalam kebijakan otonomi khusus. Dimulai dari Papua pada tahun 2001, ada 8 provinsi yang memiliki daerah istimewa hingga saat ini. Meski berstatus otonomi khusus, bukan berarti tidak ada persoalan di provinsi-provinsi tersebut. Terutama, akar sejarah integrasi dengan Indonesia, ketimpangan sumber daya, dan keterwakilan asli masyarakat adat sebagai pemegang jabatan. Ketiga persoalan ini telah menjadi persoalan umum di Indonesia karena hubungan antara pemerintah pusat dan daerah otonom bersifat naik turun. Kompensasi yang timpang dalam transfer pendapatan selalu menjadi sarang yang selalu mengingatkan proses integrasi dengan Indonesia sejak dulu. Sejalan dengan permasalahan yang telah disebutkan sebelumnya, tulisan ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi kinerja kebijakan pada kebijakan otonomi khusus di Aceh dan Papua. Kedua wilayah ini layak untuk disidik karena selalu ada pertikaian masalah klasik yang mengganggu keutuhan bangsa. Yang terpenting, kedua daerah tersebut memiliki gerakan pemberontakan yang memaksa pemerintah pusat harus cepat tanggap. Dibandingkan dengan daerah otonomi khusus lainnya, Aceh dan Papua berada dalam posisi bergolak dengan Jakarta selama beberapa dekade. Hubungan yang fluktuatif ini pada dasarnya menunjukkan masalah yang belum terselesaikan yang masih mendarah daging di kedua wilayah tersebut. Menindaklanjuti permasalahan singkat tersebut, tulisan ini mengungkapkan bahwa meski otonomi khusus di Aceh secara teknis telah mengakhiri konflik panjang, Papua masih bergelut dengan konflik yang bertebaran di beberapa daerah. Hasil yang berbeda ini sebenarnya menunjukkan sisa tantangan yang harus segera diatasi oleh kebijakan otsus

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