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