JP\/5\/irian<\/p>\n
Thousands
\ngather for
\nW. Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nManokwari, Papua<\/p>\n
Amid increasing opposition from the Papua provincial
\nadministration, thousands of people gathered on Monday in
\nManokwari to mark the fourth anniversary of West Irian Jaya
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
The celebration at Borarsi field, Manokwari, the designated
\ncapital of West Irian Jaya, featured singers from Jakarta and was
\nbroadcast live by state-owned television station TVRI.<\/p>\n
A group of legislators from the House of Representatives
\nCommission I, led by Franklin Kayhatu, visited Manokwari as the
\nfirst leg of a working visit, and were warmly welcomed by local
\nresidents and officials at Rendani Airport.<\/p>\n
A large banner hung at the airport asked the House to support
\nthe creation of West Irian Jaya province.<\/p>\n
"We want the House not to cancel the establishment of West
\nIrian Jaya, because the Papua separation will improve public
\nservices for Papuans," ethnic-Arfak youth leader Hermus Indouw
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In welcoming the visiting legislators, Hermus said that Papua,
\nwith an area of 421,981 square kilometers and home to some 2.5
\nmillion people, could not be managed by only one governor.<\/p>\n
Franklin stressed to journalists that the legislators did not
\ncome specifically to attend the anniversary celebration of West
\nIrian Jaya.<\/p>\n
"We have come to see and listen to the aspirations of the
\npeople (about the Papua division), and will discuss it before
\ntaking the next step. (We did not come) to attend this
\ncelebration; it's mere happenstance that our arrival is
\ncoinciding with the event," he said.<\/p>\n
The anniversary celebration was led by acting West Irian Jaya
\nGovernor Bram O Atururi, who was sworn in on Oct. 12, 1999. Those
\npresent included representatives from the regencies of Sorong and
\nFakfak.<\/p>\n
Bram told the crowd that the anniversary referred to Law No.
\n45\/1999 on the separation of Papua into three provinces -- West
\nIrian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya and Papua, which was enacted four
\nyears ago -- and the declaration of new regencies Puncak Jaya,
\nPaniai and Sorong.<\/p>\n
"Actually, this anniversary should have been held on Oct. 12,
\n2003, but because it fell on Sunday, it was postponed until
\nMonday," he said.<\/p>\n
The creation of West Irian Jaya, on the other hand, was
\ndelayed four years, until eight months ago when President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri issued an instruction ordering the
\nenforcement of the law on the Papua division.<\/p>\n
Presidential Instruction No. 1\/2003 sparked opposition among
\nmany Papuans, including Papua Governor Jaap Salossa and
\ncouncillors, as the central government had granted Papua special
\nautonomy in 2001.<\/p>\n
Under the law on special autonomy, any major policy on Papua
\nmust involve the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), which still has
\nnot been established. The central government has apparently
\ndelayed setting up the MRP in order to review the Assembly's
\nauthority in the province.<\/p>\n
Salossa and other Papuan critics said the separation of their
\nprovince would have been accepted, if it had already been
\nendorsed by the MRP.<\/p>\n
Responding to the opposition, Bram said the controversies over
\nthe Papua split were normal in a democracy.<\/p>\n
He also added, "The establishment of West Irian Jaya province
\nis merely aimed at bettering the life of local people."<\/p>\n
In August, at least five people were killed over several days
\nof tribal clashes between supporters and opponents of the
\ncreation of Central Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The violence forced the government to retract the declaration
\nof the new province indefinitely.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5irian-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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