papuachronicle.co – Jakarta. Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai stated that budget cuts made by the Ministry of Finance should not apply to the special autonomy funds for the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Aceh, and Papua.
Pigai, in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday (10/9/2025), said that the special autonomy funds have a historical, political, and reconciliatory basis that differs from the regular budget allocations of ministries and institutions.
According to him, the funds are provided as a form of state recognition of the regions’ special status, the result of political negotiations, and a commitment to national reconciliation built on a spirit of justice and trust.
“The Ministry of Human Rights views the special autonomy funds as part of the basic rights of the special regions, as well as a glue that strengthens the unity and trust of the people of Yogyakarta, Aceh, and Papua in the central government,” he said.
The special autonomy budget, Pigai added, is a form of positive affirmative action by the central government to strengthen national integration.
He believes that through the special autonomy policy, the state demonstrates its commitment to respecting diversity, strengthening social cohesion, and ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities to advance without losing their regional identity and distinctiveness.
“Cutting the special autonomy fund not only impacts the fiscal aspect, but also has the potential to erode public trust and disrupt the continuity of the peace process in these regions,” said the Minister of Defense.
Therefore, Pigai asked Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa not to treat the special autonomy fund as part of the budget that can be cut uniformly by other regional governments, as its position differs in principle, function, and purpose.
“The special autonomy fund is a symbol of justice and the state’s respect for the political agreement that underpins national unity. Therefore, the policy cannot be the same,” he said.