Jayapura – President Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono has agreed to evaluate Law No.21/2001 on Papua Special Autonomy in view of the latest developments in the easternmost Indonesian region.

"The President feels that it is time for an evaluation of the law which has been in effect in the last three years," presidential spokesman Andi Malarangeng disclosed following a meeting between the head of state and the Papua People's Council (MRP) here Friday night.

The evaluation of the Papua Special Autonomy Law is necessary in connection with, among others, the plan to increase the number of provinces and regencies in Papua, which has partly been realized.

MRP Chairman Agus Alue Alua, meanwhile, said that the evaluation of the Law is needed to find out whether there are items that do not serve the Papuan people's interests. "It is therefore necessary to make an evaluation first before actually revising the Law," he said.

Giving an example, he cited the need to amend Article 76, which stipulates that the establishment of new provinces must get the approval from the MRP and the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) after examining matters relating to social and cultural unity, human resources readiness, economic potentials and future developments of the region.

"Article 76 must become the core of the regulation on the establishment of new provinces and regencies in Papua, instead of merely made effective as an additional regulation," he said, adding that the creation of new provinces and regencies must be protected by a legal umbrella.

Concerning West Irian Jaya province, he said that formally the province has been established, though at first the MRP opposed the presence of that province. "But the law on this issue must be reviewed," he stressed.

"We have asked the President to delay the implementation of the plan on the establishment of new provinces and regencies in Papua pending a clarification on the legal status of the plan," the MRP chairman said.

Home Minister M.Ma'ruf said on the occasion that one of the articles in the Law on Papua Special Autonomy stipulates that it must be revised once in every three years.

The revision to be made by taking account of inputs from the MRP, the Papua provincial administration, the Papua DPRD and the West Irian Jaya provincial administration is expected to improve conditions in Papua, the minister said. "We have six months in 2007 to prepare the revision of this law," he added.