Establishment of Papuan council runs into more problems

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.