MRP members election opposed
MRP members election opposed
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura
A prominent Papua opposition figure on Thursday rejected
elections for the Papuan People's Council (MRP), as the head of
the council's election committee flew to Jakarta to hand over the
names of MRP members to be installed on the council to the
central government.
Tom Beanal, the chairman of the Papuan Customary Council
(DAP), said the election was unfair as the government had
interfered in the process.
Tom revealed that government officials through the Nationhood
Unity Office had chosen pro-government leaders to represent their
constituencies without a fair election. The government also never
provided an opportunity for people to elect their own
representatives, he said. He said the appointment of the MRP
member for Timika had never been approved by the public.
"There was no election, and suddenly an MRP member
representing the area has been chosen," said Tom.
The election of MRP members was similar to the so-called "Act
of Free Choice" in 1969, which led to the incorporation of Papua
into the Indonesian republic. The 1969 ballot was unfair as the
government had arranged the outcomes to ensure that Papua was
incorporated into Indonesia, said Tom.
Meanwhile, the chief of the MRP election committee, Tony
Rahail, went to Jakarta from Jayapura on Thursday in order to
proceed with the hand-over of the list of MRP member's names to
the central government. The central government will inaugurate
MRP members on Oct. 29.
Back in Jayapura, Papua Governor JP Salossa on Thursday
appointed 13 officials to manage the MRP secretariat in Jayapura.
The officials, who would serve MRP members, would start carrying
out daily duties on Monday, or two days after the MRP members
were installed.
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
candidates for governor and for members of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR), as well as giving recommendations
and approval for any cooperation between the Papua administration
and other parties. The council must also facilitate the
aspirations of Papuans and help guarantee the protection of their
human rights, in addition to finding solutions for disputes on
rights issues.
The MRP consists of 42 members with 14 representing
traditional communities, 14 representing women and 14 others
representing religious communities. While representatives of
traditional and women's communities are elected through popular
ballot, religious representatives are chosen by religious
institutions across Papua. The MRP members represent 14
constituencies in the province with each constituency determined
based on cultural similarity.