House begins deliberating bill on Papuan special autonomy

House begins deliberating bill on Papuan special autonomy

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives began deliberating
on Friday a bill on special autonomy for Irian Jaya that is hoped
will help resolve the problems in the country's easternmost
province.

Sabam Sirait, the chairman of the special committee
deliberating the bill, said the House would consult experts, non-
governmental organizations and political and informal leaders in
the province to accommodate the aspirations of the Papuan people
in the bill.

"Besides consulting with the team that prepared the bill, the
special committee will also seek input from political and legal
experts, and different parties in Irian Jaya during the bill's
deliberation, just as the House did when preparing the law on
special autonomy in Aceh," he said here on Friday, the first day
of the bill's deliberation.

He said both the government and the special committee would
work hard to complete the deliberation as soon as possible.

"We cannot set a deadline but the deliberation will be
completed as soon as possible because the Papuan people have long
waited for special autonomy," he said, pointing to People's
Consultative Assembly Decree No. 4/2000, which says special
autonomy in Irian Jaya and Aceh was to be implemented by May 1,
2001.

The bill currently states that while Irian Jaya will remain an
integral part of Indonesia, it will be accorded its own flag,
anthem and constitution to maintain the Papuan people's identity.

It also recommends possible revisions of history books on the
province's integration with Indonesia in 1963.

About 80 percent of all revenue from natural resources in the
province will also be retained by the provincial government.

Agus Kofar, who led the team that helped draft the bill, asked
the special committee to be extra cautious in deliberating the
bill.

"Of the greatest importance is that the House and the central
government understand the substance of the special autonomy the
Papuan people want.

"The Papuan people have also included their concept of their
cultural identity, human rights and democratic values in the
bill," he said.

He added that his team would be available whenever the special
committee needed them to explain the bill's substance and
background. (rms)