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.