The divisive policies and the neglect by the New Order regime caused rampant separatism to emerge. To surmount this challenge there is no other way than reform, and an all out effort to fight corruption, collusion and nepotism as well as centralism. The establishment of a form of regional autonomy in which an equitable financial arrangement between Jakarta and the province can be attained is the only chance of attenuating the demands for separatism. In this way, Irian Jaya and its population would be able to obtain a proportional part of the results of the exploitation of natural resources- including those from the giant Freeport Indonesian conglomerate. The discontent in Irian Jaya has been seething for a long time.
Separatist movements grow stronger, prompted by several factors.
Among others, these include the intense desire for centralism from Jakarta, dominated by power politics and money politics plus indications of corruption, collusion and nepotism on the part of a powerful minority in Jakarta. Irian Jaya can never be a sovereign state. This would need a national government, sovereignty abroad as well as locally, a national army, and its own independent foreign policy. Recognition from the international world is also elusive with most countries agreeing the sovereignty of Indonesia over the province. The redeeming factor in helping Wahid is that the majority of the Irian Jaya population is still faithful to the spirit of unity and integrity with the Republic of Indonesia.