Pressure up for government to recant Papua division<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jayapura\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Pressure mounted on Tuesday for the administration of President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri to retract its decision to partition Papua
\ninto three provinces, following deadly clashes between opponents
\nand supporters of the move.<\/p>\n
Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Akbar Tanjung
\ncalled on the government to refrain from dividing up the province
\nbefore implementing fully law No. 21\/2001 on the special autonomy
\nstatus of Papua.<\/p>\n
At least three people have been killed and 45 injured in
\nclashes between opponents and supporters of the Central Irian
\nJaya province in Timika since Saturday, when the province was
\ndeclared.<\/p>\n
Thousands of people from both camps have engaged in open
\nfighting in the streets, using spears, arrows, and other
\ntraditional sharp weapons.<\/p>\n
\"Why did the government issue the decree?\" Akbar asked,
\nreferring to presidential decree No. 1\/2003 on the acceleration
\nof Papua partition into three provinces -- Papua, Central Irian
\nJaya, and West Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The decree was supposed to be part of the implementation of
\nregulations of law No. 45\/1999 on the creation of Central Irian
\nJaya, West Irian Jaya, and North Maluku provinces, as well as
\nregencies of Paniai, Mimika, Puncak Jaya, and Sorong.<\/p>\n
While virtually all Papuans welcomed the creation of new
\nregencies, they have bitterly opposed the government's decision,
\nwhich they considered to be part of an effort to divide and rule
\nthe province, where a poorly organized secessionist movement has
\nbeen fighting for independence since the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Due to strong opposition from the local people, former
\npresident B.J. Habibie postponed the division of Papua
\nindefinitely in 1999.<\/p>\n
In 2001, the government enacted law No. 21 on special autonomy
\nstatus for the country's easternmost province, which should have
\nrendered law No. 45\/1999 void for Papua.<\/p>\n
The law stipulates that Papua province covers what is now
\nknown as Papua, Central Irian Jaya, and West Irian Jaya, and any
\nmove to split up the province should get prior approval from the
\nPapuan People's Assembly (MRP).<\/p>\n
The central government, however, is yet to approve the
\nestablishment of MRP and its members, who are supposed to consist
\nof leaders of tribes and religious groups in the province, and
\nnoted public figures.<\/p>\n
Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar and legislator Tjahyo Kumolo
\nof Megawati's Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) blamed on Tuesday Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno
\nfor the bloody conflicts in Papua.<\/p>\n
\"In conflicts such as that in Papua, there is tendency that no
\none claims responsibility. But, I personally think that Hari
\nSabarno is responsible,\" said Muhaimin, adding that the House was
\nexpected to revoke law No. 45\/1999.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, East Java, Hari told reporters that the
\ngovernment did not anticipate the clash following its decision to
\ndivide Papua.<\/p>\n
\"We, the central government, do not make hasty decisions. It
\nwas supposed to be done in stages, but local people took the
\ninitiative to declare it (the establishment of the Central Irian
\nJaya province).<\/p>\n
\"It's because the local process was too fast. We don't know
\nwhy the clash occurred so suddenly,\" he argued.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 6, local community leaders in Manokwari district
\ndeclared the formation of West Irian Jaya province and appointed
\nAbraham Atururi as the province's first governor. It also caused
\nunrest among locals, but no one was injured.<\/p>\n
Hari only said at that stage, that the central government did
\nnot order the declaration.<\/p>\n
Vice President Hamzah Haz admitted that the separation of
\nPapua did not run smoothly.<\/p>\n
\"In principle, Papua's division was based on the wishes of the
\nPapuan people. However, it is not running smoothly and has
\ncreated conflict among the people,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal of the Gadjah
\nMada University criticized the government for failing to pay
\nattention to social and cultural matters in partitioning Papua.<\/p>\n
\"The problem is the government split up Papua in view of
\ngeographical aspects only, regardless of the social and cultural
\nissues,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In Jayapura, local figures asked the government not to push
\nPapuans to implement decisions, which were made without involving
\nlocal people.<\/p>\n
\"We don't understand what the central government wants. They
\ngranted a special autonomy for Papua, later on they ordered Papua
\nto be divided into three. The people are confused so they kill
\neach other. What does Jakarta want?\" asked Tom Beanal of the
\nPapua Tribal Institute.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pressure-up-for-government-to-recant-papua-division-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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