MRP election supervisory member resigns
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
Asmirah, a member of the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) assigned to elect members of the Papua Representative Council (MRP), resigned on Thursday, only a day after she was elected.
Asmirah, who is also the wife of Fadel Al Hamid, the secretary to the Papua Cultural Council (DAP), said that she resigned because she was committed to a decision by the Papuan Cultural Council that rejected the special autonomy scheme being implemented in Papua.
"As a child of Papuan culture, I have to follow the Papuan Cultural Council's decision that rejected the special autonomy scheme on Aug. 12," said Asmirah.
Asmirah was referring to a big protest organized by the Papuan Cultural Council on Aug. 12, which rejected the special autonomy scheme and demanded that the central government hold more dialogs to discuss the future of Papua.
The Papuans rejected the special autonomy as it had been implemented for three years but had not benefited the Papuan public, but certain groups of people, especially the bureaucrats.
The Papuan Cultural Council groups a number of leading Papuan opposition figures.
Asmirah was sworn-in on Tuesday in Jayapura along with four other members of the election supervisory committee, namely Nepram Samber, the chairman, Titus Fransiscus, Adj. Comr. N. Jari and Rev. Max Baransano. In the same function, the Papuan government represented by Papua Deputy Governor Constant Karma also installed five other members of the MRP election committee namely Antonius Rahail, the chairman, Bernadus Idie, J. Murafer, Selfina Sanggenafa and Godlif Mansi.
Asmirah, who also works for the Democratic Alliance for Papua, lodged an application in June this year to become a member of Panwaslu, or two months before the Papuan Cultural Council held a big protest on Aug. 12 that was participated in by more than 10,000 Papuans.
Asmirah also revealed that she did not attend the selection process until early September when she was notified that she was elected as a member of a supervisory committee to elect members of the Papuan Representative Council (MRP).
Responding to Asmirah's resignation, chief of Papua's Nation Unity Office Wempy Wolla said that the office had not officially received the resignation letter. However, if Asmirah had sent an official resignation, then the office would look for a replacement, said Wempy.
The establishment of the council is a consequence of Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua province.
According to the law, the council has the authority to approve and submit considerations on gubernatorial candidates and members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta, as well as give recommendations and approve cooperation between the Papua administration and other parties.
The council must facilitate the aspirations of Papuans and help guarantee the protection of human rights and find solutions to any disputes on rights issues.
The council will not serve as a political body, but simply be a cultural representative of the country's easternmost province that will accommodate religious and cultural leaders to express the people's aspirations.
According to the government regulation, the MRP will consist of 42 people who represent three social elements -- traditional leaders, religious leaders and women.