Installment of governor opposed<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Opposition is mounting to the decision by the central government
\nto install Brig. Gen. Abraham Octovianus Atururi as the acting
\ngovernor of the newly established West Irian Jaya province.<\/p>\n
By installing Abraham as the acting governor, President
\nMegawati and Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno had violated
\nan important principle of law, a democracy activist said on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
"If there are two contradictory laws on the same issue, the
\nlatter law is the one that has to be upheld. The central
\ngovernment has violated this principle, and, therefore, the
\ninstallation has to be annulled," Budy Setyanto, the executive
\ndirector of the Institute for Civil Strengthening (ICS) told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Abraham was installed following a previous decree establishing
\nthe province that was issued by the central government in January
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
The installation marks the official separation of West Irian
\nJaya from Papua.<\/p>\n
Contacted by the Post on Saturday, Budy explained that the
\nsplit was governed by Law No. 45 of 1999 on the division of Papua
\ninto three smaller provinces -- West Irian Jaya, Central Irian
\nJaya and Papua provinces.<\/p>\n
The partition was also provided for later by Law No. 21 of
\n2001 on special autonomy for Papua. But, the new law contained an
\nadditional clause, stipulating that the partition of the province
\nshould first be approved by the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP),
\nwhich the law requires to be set up but has yet to be
\nestablished.<\/p>\n
"If the central government respected the rule of law, it would
\nfollow the most recent legislation and not install a new governor
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
The decision had to be based on the 2001 Law on Special
\nAutonomy for Papua, and not based on the previous 1999 law," said
\nBudy in Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Budy said that having installed Abraham as a new governor, the
\ncentral government had also ignored the aspirations of Papuans.
\nThis would only damage the interests of the central government as
\nit would further fuel tension in Papua, he said.<\/p>\n
The controversy on the partition of Papua has been going on
\nfor a few years, and it has resulted in sporadic clashes between
\nthose who support and those who are opposed to the split.<\/p>\n
The most recent clash occurred in the Central Irian Jaya town
\nof Timika after the announcement by the central government on
\nAug. 23 this year that it would push ahead with the partition of
\nPapua into three provinces.<\/p>\n
The clash between supporters and opponents of the split left
\nfour people dead. The fatal clashes prompted the government to
\ndelay the establishment of the new provinces indefinitely.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, despite the controversial installation of Abraham,
\nthe situation in Papua was largely calm on Saturday.<\/p>\n
But, many Papuans were apparently perplexed by the decision.<\/p>\n
"I don't understand this move by the central government.
\nPapuans are opposed to the split, but they insist on going ahead
\nwith it," said Penina, a Jayapura resident.<\/p>\n
Abraham was installed as governor through Presidential Decree
\nNo. 213\/M of Nov. 11, 2003.<\/p>",
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