Security worries force cgange to Papuan protest

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Papua

Due to security concerns, the Papuan Tribal Council has decided to move forward a planned mass protest on Aug. 15 that would condemn the government's failure to execute a special autonomy scheme for Papua.

The protest, which would highlight 'the return of the Special Autonomy Law to the central government,' is set to be held on Aug. 15, but since situation is expected to be tense ahead of Indonesian Independence Day celebrations on Aug. 17, therefore the protest would be moved forward to Aug. 12, said Leonard Imbiri, the secretary to the Papuan Tribal Council.

Imbiri called on the government and security apparatus to respond proportionately as the protest would comply with the law. The protest was not aimed at seeking separation from Indonesia, but was purely aimed at protesting the failure of the government to carrying out a special autonomy scheme for Papuans. "The protest will be peaceful," said Imbiri, quoted by Antara news agency on Wednesday.

Separately in Jakarta, dozens of Papuans held a protest on Wednesday in front of the State Palace, demanding the government investigate irregularities allegedly committed by Papuan Governor J.P. Salossa in the period since the special autonomy scheme had been carried out in the easternmost province in 2001.

The provincial government had been allocated funds totaling Rp 1.7 trillion (US$174 million) to carry out development in Papua since the special autonomy scheme took place in Papua in 2001, but the local government had built nothing, said Alof S.T. Rumayoni, director of the Bangun Nusa Irian Foundation.

Abdul Warwey, another foundation member, further claimed that he had strong evidence concerning the irregularities allegedly committed by the Papua Governor and his apparatus, and this evidence would be presented to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for further follow up. "The evidence includes bank accounts of some Papua officials. The accounts are suspicious because the amounts of money in these accounts was staggering," said Abdul to the Antara news agency.

Earlier, the same group of protesters staged a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy building in Central Jakarta. The protesters condemned a bill proposed recently by certain U.S. Congress members that questioned the validity of the process leading to the 1969 Act of Free Choice in Papua, when selected Papuan leaders voted unanimously to join the Indonesian republic.

The protest was held a day after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met over 20 Papuan leaders at the State Palace to discuss the latest developments in Papua.

Separately, Papuan religious leaders expressed hope that the planned protest on Aug. 12, or Friday, would run peacefully.

Reading out statement from Papuan religious leaders, Budi Hernawam, a Catholic priest, said that there had been various rumors circulating in Jayapura that if the protest was not managed well, it could lead into chaos.

"There is a rumor that Papuans are demanding separation from Indonesia, and another rumor saying that the UN will grant independence to Papua. People are confused and scared of possible chaos. We hope the protest will be held peacefully," said Budi.

The statement was signed by leading religious leaders, including chief of the Indonesian Council of Ulema's Papua chapter, Zubeir D. Hussein, Papua Cardinal Leo Laba Ladjar, Injili Protestant Church chairman Herman Saud and the chairman of Parisada Hindu Dharma's Papua chapter I Nyoman Sudha.