Papuans demand new provinces to boost development and unity

Papuans demand new provinces to boost development and unity

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Papuan people urged on Friday that the government immediately
reinstate the plan for two new provinces on the island, whose
establishment was approved in 1999 to boost development and
quench calls for independence there.

The demand was aired by some 300 Papuans who were received by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri at the State Palace. They
suggested that the new provinces be established on Oct. 12, the
date of the induction of two new governors in Papua two years ago
by then president B.J. Habibie.

"The demand represents the Papuan people's aspiration, and the
administrative structure of the new provinces has been in place
since 1999. Should the government fail to meet our demand on Oct.
12, we would like to ask for a referendum on independence,"
spokesman for the Papuan delegation Jimmy Damianus Itjie said.

He underlined that development in the country's largest
province could proceed in an effective way if it was divided into
smaller administrative areas.

The political decision to split the island into three
provinces was made in 1999 during Habibie's 17-month tenure. He
established West Irian Jaya and Central Irian Jaya provinces on
Oct. 12, 1999. Irian Jaya is the former name for Papua.

Ten days later, Habibie's successor Abdurrahman Wahid assumed
power and suspended the implementation of the decision. No
political decision has been taken to break the stalemate since
then.

Lt. Gen. (ret) Abraham Octavianus Ataruri, whom Habibie
appointed as the West Irian Jaya governor, was among the Papuan
delegates who met with Megawati on Friday. He is a former Sorong
regent.

The appointed governor of Central Irian Jaya, Herman Monim,
was absent from the meeting.

In her response, Megawati asked the people not to force the
government to formalize the provinces on Oct. 12, saying the
establishment of a new province should follow certain procedures.

"It is not because the central government will not fulfill the
demand. The government asks the people to see the bigger picture
as it is not easy to set up new provinces," Megawati said.

Setting up a province needed fair border arrangements, and
changes to gubernatorial and legislative structures.

She underlined that the central government would heed the
aspirations of the Papuan people, but the matter required further
study.

The President promised she would visit Papua before the end of
this year to see development in the province for herself.

A source close to Megawati told The Jakarta Post that during
her planned visit to Papua, she would likely announce the
establishment of the two new provinces and confirm the induction
of the two governors.