'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.