West Irian Jaya says poll must go on

West Irian Jaya says poll must go on

MANOKWARI, West Irian Jaya: The West Irian Council insisted on
Monday that the province should be allowed to hold regional
elections on Nov. 28 as planned, saying that there was no legal
basis to postpone them.

"No matter what happens, we will still hold the poll. There is
no constitutional reason to postpone it," said Council Speaker
Jimmy Idjie.

Jimmy said that based on articles 148 and 149 of Government
Regulation No. 6/2005 on regional elections in West Irian Jaya,
elections can only be postponed in the wake of a natural disaster
or conflict.

The central government split Papua into two provinces in 2003,
creating West Irian Jaya province, a move criticized by many in
Papua. Several leading Papuan figures demanded on Monday that the
central government postpone the planned regional election in West
Irian Jaya. Relevant ministers are scheduled to meet with leading
Papua and West Irian Jaya figures on Thursday in Jakarta to seek
a solution to the issue. -- JP