Politicians say dividing the territory into three provinces could lead to confusion over regional autonomy
JAKARTA - Indonesian politicians have warned that new conflicts may flare up in Papua if Jakarta goes ahead with its policy to divide the territory into three smaller provinces.
Dr Ryaas Rasyid, a former Cabinet minister and the brains behind regional autonomy, said the decree issued by President Megawati Sukarnoputri to enforce a law enacted in 1999 on the division of Papua into three provinces could spark clashes among local people owing to confusion over the legalities.
He said the government should not go ahead with the division now that a similar law enacted in 2001 on special autonomy for Papua, once known as Irian Jaya, has taken effect.
'I am sorry to say, but the government is unprofessional in running the state and lacks understanding of regional autonomy,' Dr Ryaas, who chairs the Nation's Democratic Party, told The Jakarta Post.
He said the issuance of the presidential decree on Jan 27 reflected Jakarta's top-down approach, which was prevalent during the authoritarian New Order regime.
The government's failure to introduce the decree to the public in advance was another example of Jakarta's contempt for regional autonomy, he said.
Sharing Dr Ryaas' views is Mr Aqil Muchtar, a Golkar legislator who once sat on the House of Representatives special commission deliberating the special autonomy law for Papua province.
'The decree will create confusion about whether the special autonomy law will apply to all three of the provinces,' he said.
The law dividing then Irian Jaya into three provinces was endorsed during former president B.J. Habibie's term, but was suspended after protests by the locals.
The government enacted a new law in 2001, giving the province greater autonomy in managing its resources.
This law was also considered to be an answer to the demands for independence for Papua. However, the government has been reluctant to transfer power to the local administration.
Mr Aqil cautioned that it was possible that hidden interests were behind the policy to divide up Papua.
The government, however, has pledged to proceed with the policy. --The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network
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