Papuans call for start of special autonomy<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Papuans have called on president-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
\nto enforce the Special Autonomy Law for Papua to resolve the
\nprolonged issues in the province.<\/p>\n
A meeting of Papuan activists and leaders last Wednesday and
\nThursday urged Susilo to support the Papuan people by
\nimplementing fully Law No. 21\/2001 on special autonomy for Papua
\nand reconsider the division of Papua into several provinces,
\naccording to the organizer.<\/p>\n
Rev. Karel Phil Erari, spokesman of the National Forum for
\nHuman Rights Concerns in Papua (FNKHP), which organized the
\nmeeting, said in a press conference here on Sunday that
\ngovernment officials, religious and informal leaders and women
\nactivists attended the event.<\/p>\n
"We have entrusted Susilo to fully enforce the law to help
\nresolve the issue. Otherwise, the friction between Jakarta and
\nPapua will only get worse," he said.<\/p>\n
The FNKHP itself is chaired by Susilo.<\/p>\n
Susilo won majority votes in Papua during both rounds of the
\npresidential election.<\/p>\n
Karel said this showed that Papuans had come to distrust
\nMegawati over her policy on Papua, especially the establishment
\nof Central Papua and West Papua provinces.<\/p>\n
President Megawati issued Presidential Instruction No. 1\/2003
\nto implement Law No. 45\/1999 on the division of Papua into three
\nprovinces, effectively undermining the Special Autonomy Law for
\nthat province.<\/p>\n
Megawati also refused to establish the Papuan People's
\nAssembly (MRP) as mandated by the law as the highest law-making
\nbody in the province, fearing that the body could lead to the
\nsecession of the province from Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The Papuan Legislative Council has requested the
\nConstitutional Court to annul the presidential instruction.<\/p>\n
"The contentious presidential instruction and the
\nestablishment of a new province (West Papua) are actually a
\nbetrayal of the Special Autonomy Law, which stipulates that the
\nformation of new provinces requires approval from the MRP," said
\nKarel.<\/p>\n
To date, the MRP has not been established.<\/p>\n
Agus Sumule, who accompanied Karel to the press briefing, said
\nSusilo should live up the Papuans' expectations by revoking the
\ninstruction.<\/p>\n
"Susilo still has a good chance to settle the issue and to
\nfully enforce the Special Autonomy Law to win the hearts of the
\nPapuan people," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the majority of Papuans had not yet seen the benefits
\nof special autonomy, in particular financially, as most of the
\nspecial autonomy fund from Jakarta went into local government
\nofficials' pockets.<\/p>\n
"The majority of Papuans have yet to enjoy free education,
\nhealth and transportation services that the government has
\npromised. Worse still, Papua is facing an HIV\/AIDS crisis," he
\nsaid. --Related story on Page 5<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuans-call-for-start-of-special-autonomy-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}