Papua likely to seek referendum over MRP

Papua likely to seek referendum over MRP

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Papua will probably return its special autonomy status to Jakarta
and, instead, demand for a self-determination ballot for the
province's future, if the government decides to establish Papuan
People's Assemblies in Papua and West Irian Jaya, Papuan leaders
say.

The Papuan delegates made the statement in response to
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's plan to celebrate Christmas
in Papua on Dec. 26 and simultaneously hand over a government
regulation on the establishment of Papuan People's Assembly (MRP)
in Papua and West Irian Jaya.

The people comprising religious leaders, politicians,
community leaders, student and women activists were here to
convey the Papuan people's concern over the recent controversial
decision by the Constitutional Court on the judicial review of
Law No. 45/1999 on the formation of West and Central Irian Jaya
provinces and several new regencies in Papua.

Barnabas Manna Chan, an informal leader and tribal chief in
Manokwari, said community and religious leaders and activists in
Papua were determined to give the special autonomy back to
Jakarta and call for a referendum to determine the province's
future.

He said the special autonomy given to quell the increasing
demand for a self-determination ballot in the province in 1999,
had not yet been enforced while the province had been split into
two in an apparent attempt to weaken the separatist movement.

"If the President brings a government regulation on the
establishment of two MRPs in Papua and West Irian Jaya, the
Papuan people will turn down it and, instead, call for a
referendum to determine Papua's future," he said, saying the
Papuan people were fed up with Jakarta's political ploys in
delaying the implementation of regional autonomy.

He said the Constitutional Court's decision has caused
confusion among people in Papua.

The Court ruled on Nov. 11 that Law No. 45/1999 on the
establishment of Central and West Irian Jaya provinces violated
the Constitution, but at the same time it recognized the
existence of West Papua province since it had already established
its own provincial legislature and elected its representatives in
the House of Representatives.

Rev. Herman Awom, deputy chairman of Evangelical Churches in
Papua, said the Papuan people were confused not only by the
Constitutional Court's decision, but mainly by the lack of
commitment from Jakarta to implement the special autonomy and
solve the prolonged issue.

"Jakarta has disbursed the autonomy funds, but declined to
approve the regulation on the planned establishment of the MRP,
the highest institution in the implementation of special autonomy
in the province," he said.

Ani Sabani, a woman activist from Manokwari, said the special
autonomy was ineffective in cementing Papua as an integral part
of Indonesia because Jakarta did not recognize Papua's uniqueness
as stipulated by the law.

"If Jakarta wants to improve services to the people it should
form more new regencies and not new provinces because the
regional autonomy is concentrated in the regencies and
municipalities," she said.