Pressure up for government to recant Papua division

Pressure up for government to recant Papua division

The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Jakarta

Pressure mounted on Tuesday for the administration of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri to retract its decision to partition Papua
into three provinces, following deadly clashes between opponents
and supporters of the move.

Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Akbar Tanjung
called on the government to refrain from dividing up the province
before implementing fully law No. 21/2001 on the special autonomy
status of Papua.

At least three people have been killed and 45 injured in
clashes between opponents and supporters of the Central Irian
Jaya province in Timika since Saturday, when the province was
declared.

Thousands of people from both camps have engaged in open
fighting in the streets, using spears, arrows, and other
traditional sharp weapons.

"Why did the government issue the decree?" Akbar asked,
referring to presidential decree No. 1/2003 on the acceleration
of Papua partition into three provinces -- Papua, Central Irian
Jaya, and West Irian Jaya.

The decree was supposed to be part of the implementation of
regulations of law No. 45/1999 on the creation of Central Irian
Jaya, West Irian Jaya, and North Maluku provinces, as well as
regencies of Paniai, Mimika, Puncak Jaya, and Sorong.

While virtually all Papuans welcomed the creation of new
regencies, they have bitterly opposed the government's decision,
which they considered to be part of an effort to divide and rule
the province, where a poorly organized secessionist movement has
been fighting for independence since the 1960s.

Due to strong opposition from the local people, former
president B.J. Habibie postponed the division of Papua
indefinitely in 1999.

In 2001, the government enacted law No. 21 on special autonomy
status for the country's easternmost province, which should have
rendered law No. 45/1999 void for Papua.

The law stipulates that Papua province covers what is now
known as Papua, Central Irian Jaya, and West Irian Jaya, and any
move to split up the province should get prior approval from the
Papuan People's Assembly (MRP).

The central government, however, is yet to approve the
establishment of MRP and its members, who are supposed to consist
of leaders of tribes and religious groups in the province, and
noted public figures.

Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar and legislator Tjahyo Kumolo
of Megawati's Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) blamed on Tuesday Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno
for the bloody conflicts in Papua.

"In conflicts such as that in Papua, there is tendency that no
one claims responsibility. But, I personally think that Hari
Sabarno is responsible," said Muhaimin, adding that the House was
expected to revoke law No. 45/1999.

In Surabaya, East Java, Hari told reporters that the
government did not anticipate the clash following its decision to
divide Papua.

"We, the central government, do not make hasty decisions. It
was supposed to be done in stages, but local people took the
initiative to declare it (the establishment of the Central Irian
Jaya province).

"It's because the local process was too fast. We don't know
why the clash occurred so suddenly," he argued.

On Feb. 6, local community leaders in Manokwari district
declared the formation of West Irian Jaya province and appointed
Abraham Atururi as the province's first governor. It also caused
unrest among locals, but no one was injured.

Hari only said at that stage, that the central government did
not order the declaration.

Vice President Hamzah Haz admitted that the separation of
Papua did not run smoothly.

"In principle, Papua's division was based on the wishes of the
Papuan people. However, it is not running smoothly and has
created conflict among the people," he said.

In Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal of the Gadjah
Mada University criticized the government for failing to pay
attention to social and cultural matters in partitioning Papua.

"The problem is the government split up Papua in view of
geographical aspects only, regardless of the social and cultural
issues," he said.

In Jayapura, local figures asked the government not to push
Papuans to implement decisions, which were made without involving
local people.

"We don't understand what the central government wants. They
granted a special autonomy for Papua, later on they ordered Papua
to be divided into three. The people are confused so they kill
each other. What does Jakarta want?" asked Tom Beanal of the
Papua Tribal Institute.