New council expected to bring justice to Papua: Scholar

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post/Jayapura

Although less powerful than expected, the new Papuan People's Council (MRP) is seen as a breakthrough in attempts to bring justice to the impoverished province, a scholar says.

A former rector of Cendrawasih University in Papua, Frans Wospakrik, likened the new council to a medicine that would help cure the people's anger over past policies by the central government.

"The three major social groups represented by the council are expected to bridge residents' demand for justice, which in the past has been elusive. Once people are involved in determining development programs (in the province), a reconciliation process will automatically begin," Wospakrik said.

The 42-member council consists of representatives of tribal groups, religious groups and women's groups. Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf installed the council members in a ceremony on Monday that was greeted by a protest.

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

Originally, the council was proposed as a superbody the central government would have been required to consult with regarding policies affecting the province.

Wospakrik, one of the authors of the Law on Special Autonomy for Papua, said the ultimate aim of the council was to keep Papua within the unitary state of Indonesia.

"People in Papua will fight to maintain national unity if they can live in peace and their welfare is guaranteed," he said.

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.

There has been a low-scale secessionist movement in Papua for almost four decades.

Wospakrik said the new council would give Papuans access to the decision-making process and ensure their rights were protected, which is especially important because indigenous peoples are underrepresented in legislative bodies.

"And those people who do sit on legislative bodies represent their political parties. So who will fight for the people's basic rights and interests?" he said.

Citing an example, he said many Papuans had lost their ancestral land in the name of development and were unable to claim compensation because they did not possess legal ownership documents.

Wospakrik said women were given an equal number of seats on the council in an attempt to empower Papua's women, who in the past have been subject to abuse.

One MRP member representing women, Hana Salomina Hikoyabi, said the council would help women protect their rights, which in the past had been neglected.

"It is an honor for women to be formally acknowledged. Papuan women now have the chance to pursue their interests," Hana said.