Govt moves closer to split Papua despite controversy

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

The central government moved closer to creating a West Irian Jaya province in Papua on Monday, despite lingering controversies over the plan to split the troubled region into three -- Papua, West Irian Jaya and Central Irian Jaya.

Ministry of Home Affairs secretary-general Siti Nurbaya visited Papua on Monday to hand over a fund of Rp 2.7 billion to acting West Irian Jaya governor Abraham O Atururi.

The fund, generated from Nurbaya's office, will be used to renovate the governor's office building on Jl. Siliwangi, Manokwari district that will probably serve as the West Irian Jaya capital city.

After being renovated, the gubernatorial office is expected to begin administrative activities aimed at providing services to Papuans under its jurisdiction.

Present at a ceremony to hand over the fund included Papua administration secretary Decky Asmuruf who chairs the assistance team for West Irian Jaya's establishment, Manokwari Regent D. Mandacan and local chief councillor D. Mandowen.

Nurbaya was representing Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno as chairman of the central government's team to speed up the establishment of West and Central Irian Jaya provinces.

The separation of Papua into three provinces is justified under Law No. 45/1999 that recommends the creation of two new provinces of West and Central Irian Jaya.

But, the planned split has drawn controversy among Papuans and analysts, since the government granted a special autonomy status in early 2001 to the resource-rich province.

Under the autonomy law, the establishment of new provinces in Papua must be endorsed by a Papuan People's Council (MRP) that has not yet been set up for unexplained reasons.

However, in her speech to Monday's ceremony, Nurbaya brushed aside the controversies and claimed that Papua's split was in accordance with existing regulations.

"There is nothing wrong with the establishment of a West Irian Jaya province because the central government did not scrap a decree on the appointment of Abraham O Atururi as acting governor, nor did it revoke Law No. 45/1999," she said.

Nurbaya said Atururi had been tasked with preparing administration staff until the West Irian Jaya province was set up.