42 MRP members elected, soon to be inaugurated

42 MRP members elected, soon to be inaugurated

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

Ignoring public opposition, an election committee announced on
Wednesday that 42 Papuans had been elected to serve on the Papuan
People's Council (MRP). The 42 people -- consisting of 14
traditional leaders, 14 religious leaders and 14 women -- will be
inaugurated on Oct. 29 in Jayapura by the Minister of Home
Affairs, Mohammad Ma'ruf, said the chairman of the MRP election
committee Tony Rahail on Wednesday.

The 42 members were chosen by public to represent 14
constituencies across the province, with 28 representing women
and tribal communities, and the remaining 14 representing
religious communities. Each constituency is determined based on
cultural similarities.

Separately, another member of the MRP election committee said
that although all of the newly elected MRP members had been
accepted by the MRP election supervisory board, problems still
prevailed in Constituency VIII, which included Bintang Mountain
and Yahukimo regencies.

Nefram Samber, the MRP Election Supervisory Board chairman,
said that although Fransiska Okmonggop from Yahukimo regency had
been chosen by the public, her name had not been included on the
list of people representing the regency as she hailed from the
Muyu tribe of Merauke, West Irian. The committee finally chose
Orpa Yakame, who was considered a true representative of Yahukimo
regency. Despite the problem, the election of MRP members went
ahead.

The election of MRP members had earlier drawn criticism from
the Papua opposition. Fadel Al Hamid, secretary to the Papua
Tribal Council, said the MRP election did not reflect the true
wishes of the people. He pointed for example to an MRP
representative from Serui, Yapen Waropen regency, who had been
chosen by officials from the National Unity Office of the Yapen
Waropen administration. "The appointment was illegal. The
government has ignored the people's aspirations," said Fadel.

The establishment of the council is mandated by Papuan Special
Autonomy Law (No. 21/2001). Under this legislation, the council
has the power to approve candidates for the governorship and for
membership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for Papua,
and express considerations in this regard, as well as give
recommendations and approval for any form of cooperation between
the Papuan administration and other parties.

Several quarters have alleged that the inauguration of the MRP
members has been expedited to facilitate those running for the
Papua governorship next month.