MRP elects speaker<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
The former rector of the Jaya Timur School of Theology and
\nPhilosophy, Agustinus Alua, was elected on Tuesday as the speaker
\nof the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), a newly established body
\nviewed as crucial to the bringing of justice to the resource-rich
\nbut impoverished province.<\/p>\n
Twenty-seven members of the 42-member MRP voted for Agus, who
\nrepresents the various religious groups in the province.<\/p>\n
A former rector of Cendrawasih University, Frans Wospakrik,
\nrepresenting tribal groups, obtained 14 votes and was elected
\nfirst deputy speaker.<\/p>\n
Hana Salomina Hikoyabi, who represents Papuan women, was
\npicked as the second deputy speaker during the first key meeting
\nof MRP members since the assembly was officially inaugurated by
\nMinister of Home Affairs M. Ma'aruf late last month.<\/p>\n
The first priority of the MRP members, who have a five-year
\nmandate, is to organize the election of the Papua governor as the
\nincumbent, JP Solossa, will officially end his term on Nov. 23.<\/p>\n
According to Government Regulation No. 54\/2004, the council
\nrepresents indigenous Papuan culture and wields special powers
\ncovering the protection of traditional rights, the empowerment of
\nwomen and the promotion of religious harmony.<\/p>\n
The council has the power to approve gubernatorial candidates
\nwhen they are native Papuans, provide recommendations, approve
\nany form of cooperation between the Papuan administration and
\nthird parties, and give opinions on, and endorse the
\nestablishment of, new administrative regions.<\/p>\n
The council oversees Papua province only, which has been
\nseparated from West Irian Jaya province. The Papuan Special
\nAutonomy Law, which mandated the establishment of the MRP,
\ndefines Papua province as it existed prior to the split early
\nlast year.<\/p>\n
According Wospakrik, one of the authors of the Papua Special
\nAutonomy Law, the ultimate aim of the council was to keep Papua
\nwithin the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The country's easternmost province has benefited little from
\nits vast natural resources, while the government has done little
\nto address past human rights violations in the province,
\nparticularly rampant during the 32-year rule of former
\nauthoritarian president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
There has been a disorganized secessionist movement operating
\nin Papua for almost four decades.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the members of the MRP on Tuesday also approved the
\ncouncil's standing orders, which, among other things, govern the
\nrights and obligations of MRP members.<\/p>\n
The MRP has three committees focused on religious, cultural
\nand women's affairs respectively. Each committee has the right
\nto appoint three external advisers for a period of one year
\nextendible.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mrp-elects-speaker-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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