'Papua division may end with separatism'

'Papua division may end with separatism'

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The whole of Papua society could unite in a movement to secede
from the Republic of Indonesia if the government insisted on
splitting the province, a religious leader warned.

Jayapura Bishop Leo Labalaja told the Constitutional Court on
Wednesday the separatist movement in Papua already had support
from people at the grassroots level.

"If the government is reluctant to implement the special
autonomy of Papua, intellectuals and bureaucrats may join with
the people to form a freedom movement," he told the hearing,
presided over by chief justice Jimly Asshidiqie.

Leo, who has served the Jayapura diocese for over a decade,
said Papuan people expected the central government to trust them
to manage their own life and culture.

"According to my observation, there would be less conflicts in
Papua if the central government implements the special autonomy
status. Let the people and the MRP manage themselves," he said,
referring to the Papua People's Council.

The bishop was testifying in a case filed by Papuan
legislative council member John Ibo, which challenges the Law No.
45/1999 on the partition of Papua into three provinces. It says
the case is not legally binding.

The hearing is the latest development in the ongoing debate
over whether to divide Papua. That question has caused a bloody
tribal war in the province.

Last year, President Megawati Soekarnoputri issued a
presidential instruction to speed up the enforcement of the law.

However, opponents say the creation of the new provinces runs
against the later Law No. 21/2001 that gives special autonomy to
Papua. Under the special autonomy law, all crucial policies on
Papua, including the partition policy, must be approved by the
Papua People's Assembly (MRP), which does not exist yet.

The central government has many times delayed the
establishment of the body, apparently worried by the powerful
role it could have.

"The government must listen to the people. Papua has very
complicated problems and a wrong step from the government could
fuel bigger conflicts," Leo said.

Legislator Antonius "Tony" Rahael, who was involved in the
deliberation of Law No. 21/2001, testified that Law No. 45/1999
was not legally binding after Law No. 21/2001 was issued.

Law No. 45/1999 was issued by the government of president B.J.
Habibie in a bid to appease calls for freedom in the outlying
province. At the time, about 100 Papua leaders had threatened to
separate from the country.

"So that law was merely "candy" to calm down the Papuans,"
Rahael of the Indonesia Unity Nationhood (FKKI) faction said.

However, legislators involved in the deliberation of the Law
No. 21/2001 failed to stipulate Law No, 45/1999 was not legally
binding.

At least three people were killed during a clash between rival
groups supporting and opposing the formation of the West Irian
Jaya province after Law No. 21/2001 was passed.