Papua ready to establish MRP

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The central government will hand over the government regulation on the establishment of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) to the Papua administration on Monday, bringing the realization of the long-awaited council an inch closer.

Signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in December, the regulation will be handed over in Jakarta during a ceremony attended by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS and Papua Deputy Governor Constant Karma.

Papua council speaker John Ibo said that the local administration will have to disseminate more information on the role of the council and its members to the Papua people.

According to Government Regulation No. 54/2004 on MRP, the council will consist of 42 people who represent three social elements -- the traditional leaders, the religious leaders and the women.

Ibo said that of the three elements, the traditional leaders would face difficulties in selecting their representatives.

"It's because there are so many people now claiming themselves as traditional figures. It is a concern that the selection process will be hard and take a long time. On the other hand, it will be easier for the religious figures and the women to select their representatives because they have fixed organizations," he argued.

To set up the MRP, Karma said the local administration would set up three teams. The first team would deal with familiarizing the public with the council, the second one would prepare the early process of the election of council members, and the third one would work on the regulations of the election.

The establishment of the council is a consequence of Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua province.

According to the law, the council has the authority of giving approval and considerations on candidates for gubernatorial post and members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), as well as giving recommendations and approval for any cooperation between the Papua administration and other parties.

The council also must facilitate the aspirations of Papuans and help guarantee the protection of their human rights and find solutions for any disputes on rights issues.

The President has said that the council will not serve as a political body, but simply be a cultural representative of the country's easternmost province that will accommodate religious and cultural leaders to express the people's aspirations.