1,000 Papuans convene to discuss partition policy<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Nearly 1,000 Papuans from all walks of life began a two-day
\nmeeting sponsored by the local legislative council on Monday to
\nseek a solution to the central government's controversial
\ndecision to split Papua into three provinces.<\/p>\n
The policy has encountered strong rejection from local people
\nacross Papua and triggered week-long clashes between groups
\nsupporting and opposing partition, killing at least five people
\nand injuring a dozen others.<\/p>\n
Papua Governor J.P. Salossa opened the meeting, calling on all
\nPapuans to articulate their thoughts on the division policy.<\/p>\n
"I believe that we, Papuan people, have to share all things
\nregarding this land by promoting dialog. If I, as the governor,
\nam confused on how to govern this territory following the
\ncontroversial policy, then how about my people?" he asked.<\/p>\n
"On the one hand, the central government will consider that
\nI'm standing against it if I refuse to implement the policy, but
\non the other hand, people may think that I am violating the
\nmandate to enforce the autonomy law in this land," Salossa said
\nas quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has been criticized for
\nmaking a blunder as she issued in mid-August Decree No. 1\/2003 to
\naccelerate the creation of West and Central Irian Jaya provinces.<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya is the former name of Papua.<\/p>\n
The decree was to implement Law No. 45\/1999 on the formation
\nof West and Central Irian Jaya and North Maluku provinces and of
\nPaniai, Mimika, Puncak Jaya and Sorong regencies.<\/p>\n
Implementation of the law was delayed by former president B.J.
\nHabibie due to strong opposition from Papuans, and his successor
\nAbdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid maintained the postponement.<\/p>\n
Gus Dur later introduced Law No. 21\/2001 on special autonomy
\nfor Papua, which recommends the establishment of the Papua
\nPeople's Assembly (MRP), which would have the authority to
\napprove or reject any important decisions on the province.<\/p>\n
As of today however, the MRP has not yet been established and
\nthe central government was even reviewing the political role of
\nthe assembly.<\/p>\n
"I don't mind if the government insists on splitting Papua
\ninto three provinces, but its implementation should ensure the
\nenforcement of the autonomy law as well," Salossa said.<\/p>\n
Like the governor, Papua legislative council speaker John Ibo
\nwas among those opposed to the partition.<\/p>\n
Ibo urged the government to cope with the arguments for and
\nagainst the policy correctly by brushing aside their own
\ninterests; otherwise, it could spark new problems in Papua.<\/p>\n
"We hope that after hearing arguments from all the Papuan
\npeople, we can construct a strategic policy to develop this land
\nand promote harmony among communities," he said on the sidelines
\nof the meeting.<\/p>\n
Papua council had allocated Rp 1 billion (US$113,363) from the
\n2003 budget to finance the meeting.<\/p>\n
Present included noted constitutional law expert Sri Soemantri
\nwho also criticized the policy and argued that it failed to
\npromote basic principles in the country's legal system.<\/p>\n
"The government could not just arbitrarily implement Law No.
\n45\/1999 without taking into consideration Law No. 21\/2001 on
\nspecial autonomy for Papua.<\/p>\n
"From the legal point of view, the law on special autonomy for
\nPapua has stronger grounds than the previous legislation,"
\nSoemantri said.<\/p>\n
To prevent more problems, he proposed the government set up a
\nteam, consisting of officials from the central government and the
\nprovincial administration and local community figures, to settle
\nthe issue.<\/p>\n
"It is the right time for the country to implement the
\nautonomy law because it accommodates the aspirations and basic
\nrights of the Papuan people, who have long been dealt with
\nunfairly," Soemantri said.<\/p>\n
The mountainous, 411,000-square-kilometer territory has a
\npopulation of about 2.2 million, and is rich in natural
\nresources.<\/p>\n
Papua has experienced sporadic armed insurgences that have
\nsought independence since Indonesia took control of the territory
\nin 1963 from Dutch colonialists.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/1000-papuans-convene-to-discuss-partition-policy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}