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)