Opposition continues against partition

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.