MRP elects speaker

MRP elects speaker

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The former rector of the Jaya Timur School of Theology and
Philosophy, Agustinus Alua, was elected on Tuesday as the speaker
of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), a newly established body
viewed as crucial to the bringing of justice to the resource-rich
but impoverished province.

Twenty-seven members of the 42-member MRP voted for Agus, who
represents the various religious groups in the province.

A former rector of Cendrawasih University, Frans Wospakrik,
representing tribal groups, obtained 14 votes and was elected
first deputy speaker.

Hana Salomina Hikoyabi, who represents Papuan women, was
picked as the second deputy speaker during the first key meeting
of MRP members since the assembly was officially inaugurated by
Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'aruf late last month.

The first priority of the MRP members, who have a five-year
mandate, is to organize the election of the Papua governor as the
incumbent, JP Solossa, will officially end his term on Nov. 23.

According to Government Regulation No. 54/2004, the council
represents indigenous Papuan culture and wields special powers
covering the protection of traditional rights, the empowerment of
women and the promotion of religious harmony.

The council has the power to approve gubernatorial candidates
when they are native Papuans, provide recommendations, approve
any form of cooperation between the Papuan administration and
third parties, and give opinions on, and endorse the
establishment of, new administrative regions.

The council oversees Papua province only, which has been
separated from West Irian Jaya province. The Papuan Special
Autonomy Law, which mandated the establishment of the MRP,
defines Papua province as it existed prior to the split early
last year.

According Wospakrik, one of the authors of the Papua Special
Autonomy Law, the ultimate aim of the council was to keep Papua
within the Unitary Republic of Indonesia.

The country's easternmost province has benefited little from
its vast natural resources, while the government has done little
to address past human rights violations in the province,
particularly rampant during the 32-year rule of former
authoritarian president Soeharto.

There has been a disorganized secessionist movement operating
in Papua for almost four decades.

Elsewhere, the members of the MRP on Tuesday also approved the
council's standing orders, which, among other things, govern the
rights and obligations of MRP members.

The MRP has three committees focused on religious, cultural
and women's affairs respectively. Each committee has the right
to appoint three external advisers for a period of one year
extendible.