Papuans demand cancellation of disputed law

Papuans demand cancellation of disputed law

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Papuan people concluded a two-day meeting here on Tuesday,
recommending that the central government speed up the
establishment of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) as mandated
by the special autonomy law, and revoke controversial Law No.
45/1999 on the partition of the territory into three smaller
provinces.

Nearly 1,000 Papuans, including five influential groups -- the
Papuan women's discussion group, tribal leaders' group, local
figures' group, Papuan intellectuals' group and Papuan youth
group -- attended the meeting.

According to religious figure Rev. Socrates Sofyan Yoman,
special autonomy was supposedly an answer to be given by the
central government toward mounting demands from Papuan people for
independence.

"Therefore, the government must implement its policy
consistently.

"Special autonomy status, as stipulated by Law No. 22/2001,
should be a political compromise between the government and
Papuan people. We agree to accept the policy even though we have
to pay a huge price for it, that is to drop our dreams of being
independent.

"I guess it is the time for the government to seriously
implement the policy across our territory, expecting that it can
restore our lost dignity," Socrates said.

Another participant at the meeting, Paula Makabori, said that
the government had to establish the MRP immediately, arguing,
"special autonomy without MRP is meaningless."

According to the special autonomy law, the presence of the MRP
is aimed at making the province special as compared with other
provinces in the country, because the proposed body has a vital
political function in determining development policies and the
future of the country's easternmost province.

The proposed body should consist of representatives from local
religious leaders, tribal leaders and women.

As of today, however, the MRP has not yet been established and
the central government is even reviewing the political role of
the proposed assembly.

"The government also has to revoke the controversial law on
the partition of Papua because it is against the special autonomy
law," said Abina Wasanggi from the Papuan women's discussion
group.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has been criticized for
making a blunder as she issued in mid-August Decree No. 1/2003 on
the acceleration of the creation of West and Central Irian Jaya
provinces.

Irian Jaya is the former name of Papua.

The decree was to implement Law No. 45/1999 on the formation
of West and Central Irian Jaya and North Maluku provinces and of
Paniai, Mimika, Puncak Jaya and Sorong regencies.

The implementation of the law was delayed by former president
B.J. Habibie due to strong opposition from Papuans, and his
successor, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, maintained the
postponement, later introducing special autonomy for Papua.

Megawati's policy has encountered strong rejection from local
people across Papua and triggered week-long clashes between
groups supporting and opposing the partition, resulting in the
death of at least five people and injury to a dozen others.

"If the government ignores our recommendations, we shall then
ask for a dialog involving national and international elements to
seek solutions over problems here, including freedom demands from
most of the Papuan people," warned Abina.

Papua council speaker John Ibo said that he would convey the
recommendations to the government, hoping the latter would
appreciate the growing aspirations in Papua.

The government has recently argued that one of its reasons for
dividing Papua into three provinces is to contain the separatist
movement. Other reasons are to improve the welfare of the local
people and create more opportunities for Papuans to secure
positions in local administrations.

The military has been behind the government's attempt to
weaken the secessionist movement in the territory. One of the
separatist groups, the Free Papuan Movement (OPM), has even
launched a low-level, armed struggle since it announced self-
declared independence in 1963.