Mamberamo wants new regency

Mamberamo wants new regency

JAYAPURA, Papua: Hundreds of residents from Mamberamo in the
Papuan capital of Jayapura staged a rally at the city's
legislative council on Friday to demand that their area be made a
separate regency.

"We will dispatch a team to Jakarta to convey our aspirations
directly to President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Minister of Home
Affairs Hari Sabarno if these demands are not heeded by late
June," said Wempy Bilassy, who led the peaceful protest.

He said that the people living in the areas along the
Mamberamo river wanted to split from the regencies of Waropen and
Sarmi.

Wempy, leader of the Mamberamo community traditional council,
said the population and human resources available in the area
were sufficient to have it declared a new regency. --Antara