JP/5/irian

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.