Papua bill endorsed in flurry before recess<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives rushed to pass the special
\nautonomy bill on Papua (Irian Jaya) into law at midnight Monday
\nafter a last-ditch effort to solve the contentious issue of
\nrevenue sharing.<\/p>\n
The House and the government eventually agreed to grant the
\nPapuans a majority of the revenue from the province, namely 80
\npercent of revenue from forestry and fishery and 70 percent from
\noil and gas.<\/p>\n
Initially, the House demanded that 80 percent of revenue,
\nincluding tax and royalties, be granted to local administrations,
\nbut the government rejected the proposal.<\/p>\n
The government, nevertheless, wanted 30 percent of the
\nrevenue, especially from oil and gas as well as mining.<\/p>\n
After heated argument, the House then agreed to let Minister
\nof Home Affairs Hari Sabarno consult with President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri, who had just arrived from Shanghai where she
\nattended the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.<\/p>\n
Upon arrival from Shanghai, Megawati immediately convened a
\nspecial meeting with her ministers at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport
\nto discuss the latest development on the deliberation of the
\nspecial autonomy bill on Papua.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil
\ntold reporters that the government could not accept the proposed
\nrevenue sharing of up to 80 percent for the province.<\/p>\n
\"The government decided that revenue sharing should be 70
\npercent for the local administration and 30 percent for the
\ncentral government,\" Matori said.<\/p>\n
Also attending the airport meeting were Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno,
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda.<\/p>\n
Hari Sabarno then returned to the House in the evening and
\ndiscussed the revenue-sharing issue with the House's special
\ncommittee.<\/p>\n
Finally, the House agreed to allocate the province 80 percent
\nof revenue from forestry and fishery and 70 percent of revenue
\nfrom oil, gas and mining to local people through local
\nadministrations.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, revenue sharing from oil, gas and mining will be
\nreviewed after 25 years, and during that time, the government
\nwill compensate Papuans with an increased budget from the central
\ngovernment for education and health care.<\/p>\n
In addition, Hari Sabarno said the government was committed to
\nincreasing the amount of the general allocation fund, plus the
\neducation and health care fund for next year's budget from the
\ninitial figure of Rp 3.5 trillion (US$350,000) to Rp 6 trillion.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that the House will also help us find a source of
\nfunds to increase funding from Rp 3.5 trillion to Rp 6 trillion,\"
\nHari said before attending the plenary session.<\/p>\n
While the House was in its plenary session, dozens of Papuans
\ngathered outside the meeting room to demand that the House
\npostpone passing the bill into law until the Papuans were
\nconsulted on the bill.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, hundreds of Papuans gathered outside the
\nbuilding to await the House's decision. A band of Papuans played
\ntraditional songs and danced to mark the historical moment for
\nPapuans.<\/p>\n
All of the House's 10 factions eventually approved the bill to
\nbe passed into law, with some factions adding notes. Some hoped
\nthat the bill would curb the secessionist movement in the
\neasternmost province.<\/p>\n
Other important issues in the Irian Jaya special regional law
\ninclude allowing the people to have their own flag, anthem and
\nchange of the name of the province from Irian Jaya to Papua.<\/p>\n
The Papuan bill is the first to be endorsed in the House's
\ntarget of passing seven bills, including the Papua bill, before
\nthe House goes into recess on Oct. 24.<\/p>\n
The House is slated to pass the anticorruption bill and the
\noil and gas bill on Tuesday. It is scheduled to debate the budget
\nbill on Tuesday, and is expected to endorse it on Wednesday. Also
\non Wednesday, the House is scheduled to approve the controversial
\npolice bill.<\/p>\n
The House is scheduled to go into recess this week to allow
\nenough preparation for the convening of the Annual Session of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly, the members of which two-thirds
\nare also House members. The session is slated to start early
\nNovember.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papua-bill-endorsed-in-flurry-before-recess-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}