Opposition continues against partition

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Following a public meeting held by the Papua provincial legislative council in December last year, the council will convey the outcome of it to President Megawati Soekarnoputri in Jakarta.

The hearing was held at the compound of the legislative council on Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, and was attended by some 1,000 people who represented all elements of Papuan community, including the church and students.

The public hearing recommended two important things, namely that the people of Papua demanded the central government allow the establishment of the Papua People's Council (MRP), and they rejected the partition of Papua into three provinces.

"By conveying the outcome of the meeting, the central government will be properly informed on the true wishes of Papuans," said chairman of the Papua legislative council Jhon Ibo.

Whether the central government would pay attention to it was not an issue for Papuans.

"The most important thing is that we have conveyed the true aspirations of Papuans," he said.

The partition of Papua into three provinces has been an issue that has divided Papuans. Clashes occurred last year between Papuans who supported the partition and others who opposed it, leaving several people dead.

Despite the fierce opposition, the central government went ahead with the program and backed a group of Papuans supporting the partition of Papua.

A senior official at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sitti Nurbaya, for example, has handed over Rp 2.5 million in operational funds for the newly established West Irian Jaya province.

The new provincial government, headed by the acting governor of West Irian Jaya, Bram Attururi, has already assumed office and is running government administration in the province.

Bram recently inaugurated his gubernatorial office, and continued by installing key officials to his cabinet.