House welcomes new name for Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's controversial
\napproval of renaming Irian Jaya as Papua received initial support
\nfrom members of the House of Representatives on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of House Commission I for defense, foreign and
\npolitical affairs Astrid Susanto and commission member A. Effendy
\nChoirie welcomed the change, saying that it would silence demands
\nfor independence in the easternmost province.<\/p>\n
\"From an anthropological point of view, Papua's name has been
\nknown for a long time. It should not be linked to the Dutch
\ncolonials,\" Astrid, a professor of mass communication, said.<\/p>\n
A member of the Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB), she
\nsaid the use of a local term for Irian Jaya, one of the country's
\nnatural resource rich provinces, would satisfy the people there.<\/p>\n
Proindependence supporters in Irian Jaya have always labeled
\nthemselves as Papuans, the word given to the world's largest
\nisland. Separatist rebels also prefer Papua to Irian, an Arabic
\nterm which means \"naked\".<\/p>\n
The former West Papua was controlled by the Dutch, before
\nIndonesia, who claimed the island due to historical ties, seized
\nit through military operations which were present since the late
\n1950s. The U.N. handed over the island to the republic in 1969.<\/p>\n
Astrid suggested that the House approve the change of Irian
\nJaya to Papua.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, it should undergo a constitutional procedure, but
\nwe should endorse it. It's not a big deal,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Effendy supported Astrid's view, saying that awarding the
\npeople in the easternmost province was in accordance to the
\ngrowing demand there.<\/p>\n
\"It's democratic and in line with the principle of regional
\nautonomy. So it's not really an issue,\" Effendy said. \"The same
\nthing applied when the government agreed to change South
\nSulawesi's capital of Ujungpandang to its old name of Makassar.\"<\/p>\n
The legislator from the National Awakening Party (PKB) said
\nany renaming of the country's territory could be tolerated as far
\nas it did not affect the unitary state of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We would not tolerate it if a change sparks national
\ndisintegration or an escalating independence movement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During his year-end visit to Jayapura, the capital of Irian
\nJaya, President Abdurrahman Wahid said the renaming was not due
\nto pressure.<\/p>\n
He said he could accept a demand for independence as freedom
\nof expression, but insisted that he would not tolerate any effort
\nto establish a new country within existing borders.<\/p>\n
Demands for independence have increased since the resignation
\nof former president Soeharto in May 1998, especially in natural
\nresource rich provinces, notably Irian Jaya and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Many attributed the outcry to unfair wealth distribution and
\npast human rights abuses which have occurred in the provinces.
\n(jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-welcomes-new-name-for-irian-jaya-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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