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.