Controversial split in Papua blamed on political elite

Kurniawan Hari and Syaiful Amin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta

The controversial division of Papua, which sparked deadly violence in Mimika regency last week, has been blamed on the political elite in Jakarta, particularly those in the two largest parties, and the Indonesian Military (TNI).

Analysts say the political elite would profit from the division of Papua into three provinces -- West Irian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya and Papua -- despite the fact that this would only bring misery to the Papuans in general.

Ikrar Nusa Bhakti of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said that many political interests were at play in the decision to partition Papua.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) would likely benefit from the partition as it could use the new political structures to increase its vote in the 2004 elections in Papua, where it lost to the Golkar Party in the 1999 elections, he said.

Golkar apparently rejected the plan to divide Papua as this would only lessen its domination there in the next elections.

Papua Governor Jaap Salossa and speaker of the Papua legislative council John Ibo, both from Golkar, have firmly rejected the split.

Similarly, political scientist Riswandha Imawan from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) said the conflict in Papua over the partition decision was related to the rivalry between the PDI Perjuangan and Golkar ahead of the 2004 elections.

He said similar conflicts had taken place in other resource- rich provinces, like Riau, East Kalimantan and Aceh.

Ikrar said the division of Papua had received strong backing from the TNI and National Police because they also had political interests in weakening separatist sentiment in the troubled province.

With the split, which would also entail establishing more military and police bases in the new provinces and regencies, separatist rebels could be more easily controlled, he argued.

"Basically, the partition of Papua is driven by the government's intention to weaken the separatist movement," Ikrar told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

At least five people were killed in five days of clashes between supporters and opponents of the Aug. 23 official inauguration of Central Irian Jaya province in Timika, the capital city of Mimika regency.

However, no violence was reported when other Papuans officially declared West Irian Jaya a province on Feb. 6, 2003.

However, the five deaths last week and mounting opposition from analysts and critics forced the central government to delay the creation of Central Irian Jaya province, but not West Irian Jaya.

Supporters of the partition claimed the move was based on Law No. 45/1999 on the separation of Papua into three provinces. Moreover, President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who also chairs the PDI Perjuangan, issued a presidential instruction early this year to speed up the enforcement of the law.

However, opponents say the creation of the new provinces runs against Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua.

Under the special autonomy law, all crucial policies on Papua, including the partition policy, must be approved by the Papua People's Assembly (MRP), which does not exist as yet.

Worried by the powerful role of the MRP, the central government has many times delayed the establishment of the body.

Ikrar and Riswandha further said they doubted that the policy of splitting Papua would benefit the majority of Papuans, most of whom still live in isolation and poverty, despite Jakarta's much- touted claims of bringing "development" to the province.

"Support for the partition of Papua does not really mean support for development in Papua," Ikrar said.

Meanwhile, President Megawati has insisted that the central government could not speed up Papua's split without taking into account the growing aspiration among Papuan people.

"Sometimes we just want to rush although we do not know how to split (Papua), let alone the growing aspiration in Papua. This is not a process that can just finish in one or two days," she was quoted by Antara as saying in a press conference late on Saturday.

Asked when the delay of Central Irian Jaya split from Papua will last, Megawati said the central government was still considering all political, economic and social hindrances in implementing the law on the new provinces.

"However, is it possible for one governor to handle problems in all regencies with such a very large area? Therefore, this case must be resolved wisely," she said.