Papuan Council rejects Special Autonomy Law<\/p>\n
RK Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura<\/p>\n
The proindependence Papuan Council Presidium (PDP) asserted on
\nSaturday in Jayapura that it would reject the Special Autonomy
\nLaw on Irian Jaya which will come into effect on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general Thaha Al Hamid said PDP wanted more than the
\nlaw because it was not the best or comprehensive way to settle
\nthe prolonged Irian Jaya issue.<\/p>\n
\"It is the central government that had the idea of the Special
\nAutonomy Law, not the people of Papua. Special autonomy was
\ngranted after the demand for independence had grown stronger,\"
\nThaha said.<\/p>\n
The rejection of special autonomy was part of the political
\ndeclaration made by PDP following a three-day plenary session,
\nwhich ended on Friday, he added.<\/p>\n
PDP chairman Thyes Hiu Eluay said that the Special Autonomy
\nLaw was similar to the 1969 government-engineered referendum.<\/p>\n
\"The solution is a dialog between the government and the
\npeople of Papua in which PDP is involved,\" Thyes said.<\/p>\n
\"As long as there are no talks between the government and the
\npeople, the issue will remain unresolved,\" he said.<\/p>\n
To show its rejection of the implementation of the Special
\nAutonomy Law for Irian Jaya, PDP is sending Martinus Warimon from
\nits student panel, and Deki Mlino from its Timika panel to
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"They will join the Irian Jaya community in Jakarta who will
\nall reject the Special Autonomy Law,\" said Thaha.<\/p>\n
Thyes, Thaha, Don A Flassy, the chairman of the Independent
\nYouth Organization, Rev. Herman Awom and John Mambor, a PDP
\nmember, are being tried for allegedly inciting the Irianese to
\nfight for the province's independence.<\/p>\n
The trial will continue in Irian Jaya on Monday with former
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid scheduled to take the witness stand
\non behalf of PDP.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman is to testify in connection with the Rp 1 billion
\nin aid given to the Papuan People's Congress in Jayapura on Dec.
\n1 of last year.<\/p>\n
PDP has also demanded that the Dutch and U.S. governments and
\nthe United Nations be held responsible for their past stance on
\nIrian Jaya and to review its political status of the province.<\/p>\n
PDP has also asked the Papua Liberation Front to stop its
\nactions and the National Police and Indonesian Military to
\ndiscontinue their activity.<\/p>\n
The declaration, signed by Thyes, Herman and Thaha, also calls
\non people to unite and fight against any kind of provocation or
\npropaganda.<\/p>\n
The Irian Jaya administration is sending some 1,000 people to
\nJakarta in support of the special regional autonomy.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuan-council-rejects-special-autonomy-law-1447893297",
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