Mandar ready to form new province

Mandar ready to form new province

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Mandar people, grouped under the
West Sulawesi Action Committee (KAPSB) renewed their readiness on
Monday to separate from the South Sulawesi province and establish
a West Sulawesi province to enable them to manage their own
resources.

These views were aired by KAPSB chairman Rahmat Hassan during
a hearing with the chairman of South Sulawesi Provincial
legislative council's commission A, Andi Burhanuddin.

Rahmat said KAPSB had drafted a proposal, containing lists of
natural and human resources and plans to exploit various
resources in three regencies, which are expected to form the West
Sulawesi province, namely Polmas, Majene and Mamuju.

He added that KAPSB would organize a congress, dubbed the
Mandar People's Congress on Jan. 21 which will be participated in
by thousands of people from various sectors of the society to
popularize the plan.

"This will convince the public that West Sulawesi is ready to
become a province and it is the people's aspiration," Rahmat
said.

"Mandar has been and will always be independent and there will
be no problem after separating from South Sulawesi," Rahmat
added. (27/lup)