Manokwari, Feb. 18 -- The Indonesian Regional Representatives Council (DPD) announced the formation of a team tasked with thoroughly evaluating the use of special autonomy funds by regional governments in the Papua region.

DPD Committee III Chairman Filep Wamafma said in Manokwari, West Papua, on Wednesday that the council holds constitutional authority to oversee how a portion of the state budget is allocated and used as special autonomy funds for Papua.

On that note, he stressed that all district, municipal, and provincial governments in the six provinces forming the region must assure the public of transparency and accountability in the use of the funds.

The DPD, he continued, has therefore decided to launch a comprehensive audit on...