People's congress votes for Riau independence<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The second Riau People's Congress in the
\nprovincial capital Pekanbaru concluded on Tuesday with a poll
\nthat resulted in a majority vote for independence.<\/p>\n
Of 623 ballots cast, 270 were in favor of independence, 199
\nfor autonomy, 146 for the federal option and the remaining eight
\nwere abstentions.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the four-day congress, Dun Usul, said the
\nresults of the event would be presented to the central government
\nand promoted to the public.<\/p>\n
\"We are pleased that the independence option was agreed upon
\nin a peaceful manner. Our intention was to reach an agreement
\nwithout violence and bloodshed,\" Usul, who represented the Riau
\nPeople's Communication Forum (FKPMR), said.<\/p>\n
A total of 2,025 representatives of local government,
\nnongovernmental organizations, universities and tribes attended
\nthe event, which was originally scheduled to close on Monday.
\nOnly one-third of the participants were allowed to cast a ballot.<\/p>\n
Acrimonious debate over the vote forced the organizers to
\nextend the congress.<\/p>\n
There were three options -- independence, federal state or
\nautonomy -- offered in the vote.<\/p>\n
\"The result is considered legitimate, and we will report this
\nresult to the central government through the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR),\" Usul said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Independence demands were first heard early last year when a
\ngroup of students declared an independent state in Riau. They
\nalso named Tabrani Rab, a cultural figure, the president of an
\nindependent Riau.<\/p>\n
The congress, the second of its kind, was held in response to
\nthe growing debate on the future of the oil-rich province.
\nVarious groups have made their demands, including separation from
\nthe republic and the establishment of a federated state in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
The initial congress, held in 1957, resulted in the people's
\nacceptance to join the unitary state of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In response to the congress' result, spokesman for Riau
\nprovincial administration Ruskin Har told The Jakarta Post by
\nphone that the congress was an informal forum to gather public
\naspirations and \"therefore the local administration will respect
\nit.\"<\/p>\n
\"I don't think the independence vote matters as long as it is
\naimed at enriching the public discourse. It will be a problem if
\nthey (the committee) demand a secession from Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ruskin suggested that the congress organizers explain \"what
\nkind of freedom they are searching for. Is it physically free
\nfrom Indonesia or just mentally free from injustice?\"<\/p>\n
He said separation from Indonesia would bring Riau several
\ndifficult issues ranging from economic and political to
\npsychological matters.<\/p>\n
Last week, proindependence students attempted to take over the
\noffice of American-based oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia
\nin Rumbai, 10 kilometers north of Pekanbaru, protesting what they
\ncalled unfair revenue sharing from oil exploitation in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
It was the second rally staged to demand improvements in
\nrevenue sharing after the previous rally in April last year.<\/p>\n
Riau contributes more than half of Indonesia's daily crude oil
\nproduction of 1.5 million barrels. (emf)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peoples-congress-votes-for-riau-independence-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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