People's congress votes for Riau independence

People's congress votes for Riau independence

JAKARTA (JP): The second Riau People's Congress in the
provincial capital Pekanbaru concluded on Tuesday with a poll
that resulted in a majority vote for independence.

Of 623 ballots cast, 270 were in favor of independence, 199
for autonomy, 146 for the federal option and the remaining eight
were abstentions.

The chairman of the four-day congress, Dun Usul, said the
results of the event would be presented to the central government
and promoted to the public.

"We are pleased that the independence option was agreed upon
in a peaceful manner. Our intention was to reach an agreement
without violence and bloodshed," Usul, who represented the Riau
People's Communication Forum (FKPMR), said.

A total of 2,025 representatives of local government,
nongovernmental organizations, universities and tribes attended
the event, which was originally scheduled to close on Monday.
Only one-third of the participants were allowed to cast a ballot.

Acrimonious debate over the vote forced the organizers to
extend the congress.

There were three options -- independence, federal state or
autonomy -- offered in the vote.

"The result is considered legitimate, and we will report this
result to the central government through the House of
Representatives (DPR)," Usul said as quoted by Antara.

Independence demands were first heard early last year when a
group of students declared an independent state in Riau. They
also named Tabrani Rab, a cultural figure, the president of an
independent Riau.

The congress, the second of its kind, was held in response to
the growing debate on the future of the oil-rich province.
Various groups have made their demands, including separation from
the republic and the establishment of a federated state in
Indonesia.

The initial congress, held in 1957, resulted in the people's
acceptance to join the unitary state of Indonesia.

In response to the congress' result, spokesman for Riau
provincial administration Ruskin Har told The Jakarta Post by
phone that the congress was an informal forum to gather public
aspirations and "therefore the local administration will respect
it."

"I don't think the independence vote matters as long as it is
aimed at enriching the public discourse. It will be a problem if
they (the committee) demand a secession from Indonesia," he said.

Ruskin suggested that the congress organizers explain "what
kind of freedom they are searching for. Is it physically free
from Indonesia or just mentally free from injustice?"

He said separation from Indonesia would bring Riau several
difficult issues ranging from economic and political to
psychological matters.

Last week, proindependence students attempted to take over the
office of American-based oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia
in Rumbai, 10 kilometers north of Pekanbaru, protesting what they
called unfair revenue sharing from oil exploitation in the
province.

It was the second rally staged to demand improvements in
revenue sharing after the previous rally in April last year.

Riau contributes more than half of Indonesia's daily crude oil
production of 1.5 million barrels. (emf)