Establishment of Papuan council runs into more problems
Netty Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, Jayapura
The ongoing formation of Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) has drawn strong opposition from Papuan tribal leaders and churchmen, who feel disappointed with what they say are the central government's confusing policies in the resource-rich province.
Karel Phil Erari, a tribal leader in Papua, said in a discussion on Friday that serious problems would surface if the provincial government went ahead with the undemocratic selection process for candidates to sit in the MRP, which has sparked strong protests from the Papua Presidium Council (PDP), churches and tribal leaders.
He said the provincial administration had apparently pushed for the officiating of the MRP on Oct. 15 so that it could be used as a rubber stamp to approve Governor Jaap Solossa's candidacy and possible reelection in the incoming gubernatorial election.
He explained that women's groups, the PDP and churches have refused to nominate their own candidates to sit on the MRP as the central government had not yet shown a firm commitment to rolling out special autonomy for the province. Rather, they said, the government's policies in the province were contradictory.
"Four years on, special autonomy has fattened up corrupt officials but done nothing for the people. The people have are also confused by the unclear status of the new West Irian Jaya province. Now, the MRP is being formed without any consultations or talks with the other stakeholders," Karel said.
"The (central) government should postpone the planned gubernatorial elections in Papua and West Irian Jaya until a legitimate MRP is established. The MRP is at the heart of the Special Autonomy Law, and it won't be able to work if there are no representatives from the PDP and churches," former Papua governor Barnabas Suebu said.
Indra J. Piliang, a political analyst with the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Adriana Elisabeth, a researcher with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), blamed lingering distrust between the central government and Papuans for the latest problems.
They said that Jakarta had intentionally introduced contradictory policies on Papua for fear that the full implementation of special autonomy would lead to the secession of the province from Indonesia.
According to Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua, the 42-member MRP will have the power to approve candidates standing in gubernatorial elections and for the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), as well as make recommendations and give its approval for cooperative projects between the Papua administration and third parties.
Meanwhile, hundreds of youths and students staged a rally in the provincial capital of Jayapura on Friday to protest against the way MRP candidates were being selected, which they said was undemocratic.