JP/5/irian

Thousands gather for W. Irian Jaya

Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post Manokwari, Papua

Amid increasing opposition from the Papua provincial administration, thousands of people gathered on Monday in Manokwari to mark the fourth anniversary of West Irian Jaya province.

The celebration at Borarsi field, Manokwari, the designated capital of West Irian Jaya, featured singers from Jakarta and was broadcast live by state-owned television station TVRI.

A group of legislators from the House of Representatives Commission I, led by Franklin Kayhatu, visited Manokwari as the first leg of a working visit, and were warmly welcomed by local residents and officials at Rendani Airport.

A large banner hung at the airport asked the House to support the creation of West Irian Jaya province.

"We want the House not to cancel the establishment of West Irian Jaya, because the Papua separation will improve public services for Papuans," ethnic-Arfak youth leader Hermus Indouw said.

In welcoming the visiting legislators, Hermus said that Papua, with an area of 421,981 square kilometers and home to some 2.5 million people, could not be managed by only one governor.

Franklin stressed to journalists that the legislators did not come specifically to attend the anniversary celebration of West Irian Jaya.

"We have come to see and listen to the aspirations of the people (about the Papua division), and will discuss it before taking the next step. (We did not come) to attend this celebration; it's mere happenstance that our arrival is coinciding with the event," he said.

The anniversary celebration was led by acting West Irian Jaya Governor Bram O Atururi, who was sworn in on Oct. 12, 1999. Those present included representatives from the regencies of Sorong and Fakfak.

Bram told the crowd that the anniversary referred to Law No. 45/1999 on the separation of Papua into three provinces -- West Irian Jaya, Central Irian Jaya and Papua, which was enacted four years ago -- and the declaration of new regencies Puncak Jaya, Paniai and Sorong.

"Actually, this anniversary should have been held on Oct. 12, 2003, but because it fell on Sunday, it was postponed until Monday," he said.

The creation of West Irian Jaya, on the other hand, was delayed four years, until eight months ago when President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued an instruction ordering the enforcement of the law on the Papua division.

Presidential Instruction No. 1/2003 sparked opposition among many Papuans, including Papua Governor Jaap Salossa and councillors, as the central government had granted Papua special autonomy in 2001.

Under the law on special autonomy, any major policy on Papua must involve the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), which still has not been established. The central government has apparently delayed setting up the MRP in order to review the Assembly's authority in the province.

Salossa and other Papuan critics said the separation of their province would have been accepted, if it had already been endorsed by the MRP.

Responding to the opposition, Bram said the controversies over the Papua split were normal in a democracy.

He also added, "The establishment of West Irian Jaya province is merely aimed at bettering the life of local people."

In August, at least five people were killed over several days of tribal clashes between supporters and opponents of the creation of Central Irian Jaya.

The violence forced the government to retract the declaration of the new province indefinitely.