Seram people demand separate regencies<\/p>\n
Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people in Seram greeted House of Representatives'
\nlegislators with a rally to urge the lawmakers to support their
\ndemands for new regencies on Maluku island.<\/p>\n
Bearing banners stating their desire for separate regencies in
\nWest Seram and East Seram, the crowd asked for an unscheduled
\nmeeting with the legislators, who arrived at Pattimura airport in
\nAmbon from Jakarta for a visit to the Aru islands in Southeast
\nMaluku.<\/p>\n
The meeting forced the legislators to delay their trip until
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the protesters insisted during the talks,
\nwhich were held at the Hotel Amans, that the House support their
\ncase, which they had been fighting for since 1997. Some of the
\nlocal people threatened to attack state assets and set an oil
\nwell alight on Seram island, which is part of Central Maluku
\nregency.<\/p>\n
Manase Malo, who heads the House's nine-member team, asked the
\nprotesters to remain calm and refrain from using violence.<\/p>\n
\"We will take the people's wishes into account and will bring
\ntheir demands before a House plenary session. We just need your
\nmoral support,\" said Manase, the legislator in charge of the
\nregional autonomy campaign.<\/p>\n
The lawmakers are in Maluku to observe the implementation of
\nregional autonomy, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2001. Since then
\nover 100 new regencies have been formed, bringing the total
\nnumber of regencies and municipalities to 410.<\/p>\n
During the one-hour discussion, the local people also asked
\nthe legislators to visit Bula district in the eastern part of
\nSeram on Friday to meet more people who supported the
\nestablishment of new regencies on the island.<\/p>\n
Another legislator, M. Taher Saimima, said his team would put
\npressure on the Central Maluku regent and councillors, Maluku
\nprovincial council, and governor to accept the Seram people's
\ndemands.<\/p>\n
Criticizing Maluku officials for a lack of good faith in
\nresponding to the people's demands, Taher said the House would
\nconsider drafting an initiative bill on the creation of new
\nregencies in Seram.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seram-people-demand-separate-regencies-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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