Hundreds of Papuans rally against governor's report
Hundreds of Papuans rally against governor's report
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post , Jayapura, Papua
Hundreds of people staged a rally in the Papua capital of
Jayapura on Tuesday to protest the annual progress report
presented by Governor Jaap Salossa, citing alleged fraud and
irregularities in the report.
The protest by members of the Papuan Youth Front and two other
non-governmental organizations, Gerak Mamta and Papua Watch, came
as factions in the provincial legislative council gave their
final responses to the report.
The demonstrators arrived by bus, truck and motorcycle at the
council's building at 10:30 a.m. local time. They carried banners
and pamphlets opposing the governor's report.
"The annual progress report is a public deception," read one
pamphlet, as it did not detail huge funds allocated by the
central government to support the implementation of special
autonomy status for the troubled province.
The Papuan protesters demanded that the governor account for
the use of the special autonomy funds transparently.
"The special autonomy status funds are very large, but the
Papuan people have not enjoyed them. Many new cars belonging to
executive and legislative members have started to appear in the
streets," one protester said.
This proved that the Papua administration and council did not
protect those on low incomes in their development policies, the
demonstrators said.
Inside the council building where a plenary session was under
way, nine factions accepted the governor's progress report and
two others -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) -- had yet to
declare their stance.
The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) faction did not
present its response during the session as some of its members
rejected the report.
Governor Salossa played down the demonstration against him on
Tuesday, saying it was normal in a democracy as the report was
related to political issues.
"There has been politicking behind the demonstration to
strengthen the opposition against the progress report, and that
is normal. However, most councillors have accepted my report," he
said.
The protesters dispersed at 3:30 p.m. local time after none of
the councillors was prepared to receive them.
On Monday, a similar protest was also held to reject the
progress report.
The protesters urged that a joint team of military and police
officials, as well as independent auditors, investigate the
possible misuse of state funds by the Papua administration.
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post , Jayapura, Papua
Hundreds of people staged a rally in the Papua capital of
Jayapura on Tuesday to protest the annual progress report
presented by Governor Jaap Salossa, citing alleged fraud and
irregularities in the report.
The protest by members of the Papuan Youth Front and two other
non-governmental organizations, Gerak Mamta and Papua Watch, came
as factions in the provincial legislative council gave their
final responses to the report.
The demonstrators arrived by bus, truck and motorcycle at the
council's building at 10:30 a.m. local time. They carried banners
and pamphlets opposing the governor's report.
"The annual progress report is a public deception," read one
pamphlet, as it did not detail huge funds allocated by the
central government to support the implementation of special
autonomy status for the troubled province.
The Papuan protesters demanded that the governor account for
the use of the special autonomy funds transparently.
"The special autonomy status funds are very large, but the
Papuan people have not enjoyed them. Many new cars belonging to
executive and legislative members have started to appear in the
streets," one protester said.
This proved that the Papua administration and council did not
protect those on low incomes in their development policies, the
demonstrators said.
Inside the council building where a plenary session was under
way, nine factions accepted the governor's progress report and
two others -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB) -- had yet to
declare their stance.
The Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) faction did not
present its response during the session as some of its members
rejected the report.
Governor Salossa played down the demonstration against him on
Tuesday, saying it was normal in a democracy as the report was
related to political issues.
"There has been politicking behind the demonstration to
strengthen the opposition against the progress report, and that
is normal. However, most councillors have accepted my report," he
said.
The protesters dispersed at 3:30 p.m. local time after none of
the councillors was prepared to receive them.
On Monday, a similar protest was also held to reject the
progress report.
The protesters urged that a joint team of military and police
officials, as well as independent auditors, investigate the
possible misuse of state funds by the Papua administration.