Surjadi lets Freddy hold governor post<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Home affairs minister Surjadi
\nSoedirdja has allowed State Minister of Administrative Reforms
\nFreddy Numberi to hold his post as governor for at least two
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
Freddy said in his first visit home since becoming a Cabinet
\nmember that the government would pick a caretaker to prepare a
\ngubernatorial election in cooperation with the provincial
\nlegislative body in January next year.<\/p>\n
But Freddy, a rear admiral, has had his territory reduced due
\nto the government's decision to split the western half of Irian
\nJaya into three provinces to ensure a more equitable development
\nin the huge but less populated territory.<\/p>\n
The decision has met with protests from locals who insist the
\nprovince's partition should come from the bottom, and not be
\ndictated from the top. They demanded that the government put the
\ndecision on hold, pending a consultation with them.<\/p>\n
Freddy will rule East Irian Jaya. The government appointed
\nHerman Monim as the governor of Central Irian Jaya and Abraham O.
\nAtaruri as the governor of West Irian Jaya on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In regard to autonomy, Freddy, the first Irianese native to
\nhold a ministerial post since people in the territory voted for
\nintegration into Indonesia in the United Nations-sponsored
\nreferendum in the late 1960s, said people in the three Irian
\nprovinces were not ready for the status.<\/p>\n
He said the Law on Regional Autonomy needed to be familiarized
\nfor at least one year in the territory.<\/p>\n
\"I have told the central government to accommodate the local
\npeople's aspirations before implementing the new law,\" Freddy
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The law will come into effect in 2001.<\/p>\n
Freddy suggested that all regents in Irian Jaya take part in
\nthe familiarization program of an autonomy status.<\/p>\n
\"I think one year is enough to make people understand the
\nconcept of regional autonomy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a provincial legislature member, Yance Kayame of
\nthe Golkar faction, said all elements of society must be included
\nin intensive discussion on regional autonomy.<\/p>\n
\"Informal leaders, tribal chiefs, religious leaders and
\nstudents must be given chances to present their ideas of
\ndevelopment in the province,\" Yance said, adding that such a way
\nwould avoid a possible rejection of the autonomy plan. (eba\/edt)<\/p>",
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