For 11\/5)<\/p>\n
JP\/6\/EDIT01<\/p>\n
Papuans need sincerity<\/p>\n
The 42 members of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) were
\ninstalled on Oct. 31, 2005, in Jayapura, capital of the
\neasternmost province of Papua. But whether the assembly will be
\nable to play the role it is supposed to play is another question.
\nThe controversy surrounding the formation of the assembly in
\nrecent weeks is reason enough to have reservations about the
\nperformance of the assembly.<\/p>\n
The controversy over the selection of MRP members is
\nindicative of poor communication between the government and the
\nPapuan people. It is an old problem, but people could be forgiven
\nfor harboring some hopes of a change in the government's attitude
\ntoward its easternmost constituents now that peace is dawning in
\nAceh Nanggroe Darussalam, another province with a long history of
\nseparatism. Any change, however, remains elusive.<\/p>\n
Opponents to the formation of the assembly have asked for the
\npostponement of the confirmation of its members in office on the
\ngrounds that they are not the people's choices. The opposition
\ncomes from virtually across the whole of society, including the
\ninfluential Papua Presidium Council, and church and tribal
\nleaders.<\/p>\n
The controversy over the assembly should have never arisen in
\nthe first place. In fact, the establishment of the MRP should
\nhave been an occasion for joy as it is part of the most liberal
\neffort ever by the government to reduce separatist sentiment in the
\nresource-rich province. The MRP, mandated by the Papua Special
\nAutonomy Law No. 21, which was signed by former president Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri in 2001, was the brainchild of her predecessor, the
\nreform-minded president Abdurrahman Wahid. The legislation was
\nintended to give more power and greater revenue to the Papuan
\nprovincial government.<\/p>\n
The enactment of the legislation led many to believe that a
\nmiddle way had finally been found to resolve the decades-old
\nseparatist conflict that has killed more than 100,000 people. But
\nafter the legislation was enacted, things ground to a halt,
\nostensibly because the government had yet to issue the necessary
\nancillary regulations to give effect to the legislation. All of
\nwhich proves, once again, that a good concept will not
\nnecessarily translate itself into good results without the
\npolitical will to see it through.<\/p>\n
Local leaders say they were not consulted about the MRP
\nformation process and that the seeming haste involved was
\nintended to rubber stamp the reelection of Governor Jaap E.
\nSolossa, a functionary of the Golkar party, in the upcoming
\ngubernatorial election.<\/p>\n
Golkar, led by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, is the dominant
\nparty in the House of Representatives. According to the Papua
\nSpecial Autonomy Law, the MRP will have the power to approve
\nthe candidates standing in gubernatorial elections and for the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR), as well as make
\nrecommendations and give its special approval to collaborative
\nprojects between the Papua administration and third parties.<\/p>\n
Actually, poor communication is only the tip of the iceberg.
\nThe government needs to decide how it wants to define its
\nrelationship with the Papuans. Does it see itself as a colonial
\nmaster, like many Papuans allege, or does it want to define the
\nrelationship as one of trust and an encounter between equals?
\nNothing will actually change until the right definition is found.<\/p>\n
There are other no less serious issues that have to be
\nresolved. What does it mean when the government uses the term
\n\"Papua\"? Is it referring to the original province as defined in
\nthe Special Autonomy Law, or does Papua comprise the eastern part
\nof the original Papua and Western Irian Jaya, as postulated by
\nthe Constitutional Court last year?<\/p>\n
To Papuans, these are all contradictory signals that only
\nreinforce their believe that Jakarta is not serious about
\nautonomy for their land.<\/p>\n
If sincerity is absent from the government's policies, resentment
\nwill persist. The Papuans, like the Acehnese, have deep
\nresentment against Jakarta, which they hold responsible for the
\nprolonged violence and human rights abuses. All they want is
\nsincerity on the part of the government.<\/p>\n
We certainly don't want another tsunami, like that in Aceh, to
\nforce the government to improve its attitude toward the Papuans.
\nThe Papuans do not deserve more uncertainties. They have had
\nenough of them.<\/p>\n
The government needs to reflect on the case of East Timor and
\nlearn that the strategy of buying time in order to maintain
\nabsolute control in Papua is no longer appropriate, unless it
\nwants to lose another province. There is no reason why the
\ngovernment cannot do the same in Papua as it has done in Aceh.
\nListen to what the Papuans say and treat them with respect and
\nsincerity!<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bfor-115b-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}