Irian to be split into three support areas

Irian to be split into three support areas

JAKARTA (JP): The province of Irian Jaya will be split into
three regional support areas to be headed by a deputy governor,
rather than into three provinces as some people have suggested,
Antara reported yesterday.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie SM said in Sorong, Irian
Jaya, on Sunday that the new division was aimed at boosting
economic development and facilitating administration.

"Hopefully, this will help accelerate economic development and
facilitate administrative matters," Yogie said.

He said that in accordance with Irian Jaya Governor Jacob
Pattipi's suggestion, the new deputy governors would be natives
of the province and will be based at the governor's office in the
provincial capital of Jayapura.

The addition of two new deputy governors would raise the total
number to three; the existing deputy governor is Basyir Bachtiar.
He did not mention when the new deputy governors will be
appointed.

"The government has no intention of adding a new province in
Irian Jaya," Yogie said. "Splitting Irian Jaya into three
provinces is theoretically easy, but it would be hard to
implement, as it involves numerous conditions."

The first step in this new development was yesterday's
inauguration of Sorong into an administrative city based on
governmental decree No. 1/1994. During yesterday's ceremony,
Yogie inaugurated Jonathan Anes Jumame as mayor.

For many, the ceremony signaled an end to a long wait; the
proposal to establish Sorong as an administrative city was first
put forward in 1983.

This will soon be followed by the initiation of the Timika and
Enarotali administrative regencies.

The first support region comprises the Jayapura regency and
the Jayapura mayoralty, along with the Jayawijaya and Merauke
regencies.

The second support region consists of the Paniai, Yapen and
Biak Numfor regencies, along with the administrative regency of
Enarotali.

The third support region includes the Manokwari, Sorong and
Fak-fak regencies, along with the administrative regencies of
Timika and Sorong.

Yogie added that the central government has also agreed to
upgrade the status of 28 areas into districts, bringing the total
number of districts in Irian Jaya to 145.

There have been calls to divide Irian Jaya into three
provinces on the grounds that it would foster greater unity among
the Irianese people.

Some observers have said that, while the called-for splitting
may not be economically viable, it would be of great
psychological importance, and would enhance the defense and
security situation there. (mds)