Legislators protest plenary meeting

JAKARTA: A number of legislators attending a plenary meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday protested the failure to announce their proposal to revise Law No. 45/1999 on the division of Papua into three provinces.

Usually, the House hears input on matters such as revising a law at the opening of a plenary session.

Simon Patrice Morin of Golkar questioned House Deputy Speaker Tosari Widjaja for not announcing the proposal to revise the law on the division of Papua.

Citing the House's internal rules, fellow legislator Ruben Gobay said all proposals submitted to the House must be announced during a plenary meeting.

He said House leaders must have noticed the proposal from 30 legislators because it had been submitted last September.

A House staff member said he did not read out the proposal because he had not received instructions to do so from House leaders.

It was eventually agreed to hear the proposal at the next plenary session.

Ruben said legislators who submitted the proposal to revise the law were demanding that any separation or establishment of a new administration entity refer to Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua.

Based on this law the establishment of a new province or regency would require the approval of the Assembly of Papuan People. -- JP