'Papua division may end with separatism'<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The whole of Papua society could unite in a movement to secede
\nfrom the Republic of Indonesia if the government insisted on
\nsplitting the province, a religious leader warned.<\/p>\n
Jayapura Bishop Leo Labalaja told the Constitutional Court on
\nWednesday the separatist movement in Papua already had support
\nfrom people at the grassroots level.<\/p>\n
\"If the government is reluctant to implement the special
\nautonomy of Papua, intellectuals and bureaucrats may join with
\nthe people to form a freedom movement,\" he told the hearing,
\npresided over by chief justice Jimly Asshidiqie.<\/p>\n
Leo, who has served the Jayapura diocese for over a decade,
\nsaid Papuan people expected the central government to trust them
\nto manage their own life and culture.<\/p>\n
\"According to my observation, there would be less conflicts in
\nPapua if the central government implements the special autonomy
\nstatus. Let the people and the MRP manage themselves,\" he said,
\nreferring to the Papua People's Council.<\/p>\n
The bishop was testifying in a case filed by Papuan
\nlegislative council member John Ibo, which challenges the Law No.
\n45\/1999 on the partition of Papua into three provinces. It says
\nthe case is not legally binding.<\/p>\n
The hearing is the latest development in the ongoing debate
\nover whether to divide Papua. That question has caused a bloody
\ntribal war in the province.<\/p>\n
Last year, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a
\npresidential instruction to speed up the enforcement of the law.<\/p>\n
However, opponents say the creation of the new provinces runs
\nagainst the later Law No. 21\/2001 that gives special autonomy to
\nPapua. Under the special autonomy law, all crucial policies on
\nPapua, including the partition policy, must be approved by the
\nPapua People's Assembly (MRP), which does not exist yet.<\/p>\n
The central government has many times delayed the
\nestablishment of the body, apparently worried by the powerful
\nrole it could have.<\/p>\n
\"The government must listen to the people. Papua has very
\ncomplicated problems and a wrong step from the government could
\nfuel bigger conflicts,\" Leo said.<\/p>\n
Legislator Antonius \"Tony\" Rahael, who was involved in the
\ndeliberation of Law No. 21\/2001, testified that Law No. 45\/1999
\nwas not legally binding after Law No. 21\/2001 was issued.<\/p>\n
Law No. 45\/1999 was issued by the government of president B.J.
\nHabibie in a bid to appease calls for freedom in the outlying
\nprovince. At the time, about 100 Papua leaders had threatened to
\nseparate from the country.<\/p>\n
\"So that law was merely \"candy\" to calm down the Papuans,\"
\nRahael of the Indonesia Unity Nationhood (FKKI) faction said.<\/p>\n
However, legislators involved in the deliberation of the Law
\nNo. 21\/2001 failed to stipulate Law No, 45\/1999 was not legally
\nbinding.<\/p>\n
At least three people were killed during a clash between rival
\ngroups supporting and opposing the formation of the West Irian
\nJaya province after Law No. 21\/2001 was passed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papua-division-may-end-with-separatism-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}