Luwu residents want change in status to that of province

Luwu residents want change in status to that of province

Antara, Belopa, South Sulawesi

Hundreds of thousands of Luwu regency residents signed a huge white banner spread out on Opu Dg Risaju soccer field here on Saturday to demand that the regency be declared a province.

Similar ceremonies were simultaneously held in Palopo, Palopo regency; Masamba Luwu Utara in Masamba regency; and Malili Luwu Timur in Malili regency, involving hundreds of thousands of locals.

The ceremony in Belopa was led by Prof. Iskandar, who read the demand for the establishment of Luwu province in his capacity as chairman of the Committee for the Establishment of Luwu Province.

Present at the ceremony were Luwu Regent Kamrul Kasim, deputy speaker of the Luwu regency legislative council Nurhidayah Thalib, Luwu Utara Regent Lutfi A. Mufty, Luwu Timur Regent Hatta and most subdistrict heads in Luwu regency.

Meanwhile in Palopo, thousands of locals remained in high spirits even though drizzle showered Gaspa field, where the ceremony to demand provincial status was held.

Palopo Mayor Ap. Tenriadjeng said the demand was a manifestation of Luwu residents' desire to have the regency declared a province.

He expressed hope that their aspirations would be discussed at the national level -- by the House of Representatives -- after the 2004 general election.

After the ceremony was over the residents participated in a parade across the regency's capital.

If their demand is endorsed by the House, Luwu would likely become the country's 34th province as the legislature has recently endorsed the proposal on the establishment of the 33rd province -- the Riau Islands province.