In an effort to accommodate fundamental rights for natives, the Indonesian government set up a people's assembly in the easternmost province Papua on Monday even though protesters say the body will only act as a Jakarta puppet.
Home Minister Muhammad Ma'aruf officially installed 42 members of the Papuan People's Assembly during a simple ceremony in the provincial capital Jayapura.
"There are pros and cons among the people, but it should be regarded as a lesson that must be responded with sincere heart and cool mind," Ma'aruf said in a speech.
No disturbances were seen during the ceremony although public anger has been growing, questioning the legitimacy of the body.
The assembly was set up to carry out a mandate of the 2001 Law on Special Autonomy for Papua. It is a cultural institution that is to work for the fundamental rights of native Papuans and "lift their dignity." It consists of 42 members, 14 of them representing traditional communities, 14 representing women and 14 representing religious communities.
Representatives of women and traditional communities were elected by popular ballot while the religious representatives were recommended by religious institutions across the province. Their appointments, however, have raised protests.
Protesters said the election process took place without a proper information campaign, claiming only 20 percent of the Papuan population was aware of the establishment of the assembly. They also accused the central government of interfering in the selection process and that the elected members simply will carry the interests of Jakarta.
Churches charged the religious representatives had been appointed without their recommendations, but with the recommendation of a pro-Jakarta religious organization.
According to the law, the assembly has the power to approve candidates for Papuan governor and members of the People's Consultative Assembly, the country's upper House, to represent Papua's interests.
In August, people expressed disappointment with the special autonomy law, which they said has failed to meet expectations.
The demonstration came weeks after some members of the US Congress proposed a bill questioning the validity of the process leading to the 1969 Act of Free Choice in Papua when a group of about 1,000 selected Papuan leaders voted unanimously to be become part of Indonesia.
The plebiscite formally incorporated Papua as part of Indonesia, under the supervision of the United Nations. It was later endorsed by UN resolution.
Rebels from the Free Papua Movement have staged a long-running guerrilla campaign against Indonesian control of the former Dutch New Guinea, which borders Papua New Guinea. Indonesia took over the western half of the island of New Guinea from the Dutch in 1963.
The rebels accuse Jakarta of stealing the profits from the natural resources in copper-rich Papua.