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MRP, MRPB to challenge Jokowi at Constitutional Court regarding Otsus Law revision

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Tabloid JUBI - June 19, 2021

Jayapura, Jubi – The Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and the West Papuan People's Assembly (MRPB) have filed a lawsuit against President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo following the unilateral and allegedly unlawful effort by the central government and the House of Representatives to deliberate a draft bill amending Law No. 21/2001 on Papua Special Autonomy (Otsus), without involving the MRP and the MRPB.

The MRP and MRPB submitted a request for the Dispute on the Authority of State Institutions to the Constitutional Court on Thursday, June 17, 2021.

Lawyer of the MRP and MRPB, Roy Rening, said that the lawsuit was an attempt to seek truth and justice.

MRP chair Timotius Murib emphasized that the government had never involved the MRP and MRPB in the deliberation of the Otsus Law revision.

"The government has never involved the MRP and MRPB in the Otsus Law revision. Article 77 of Otsus Law, which requires the MRP and MRPB to be involved in the process, is not implemented. Therefore, we have agreed to file a complaint to the Constitutional Court," Murib told Jubi on Thursday.

Indeed, Article 77 of Otsus Law says, "The Papuan people can submit a proposal for amendments to this Law through the Papuan People's Assembly and Papua Legislative Council to the House of Representatives and the government, in accordance with the laws and regulations".

MRPB chair Maxsi Nelson Ahoren said that the lawsuit was not an act of hostility toward the state. "We do not fight against the state, we only demand the truth about Article 77 [of Otsus Law]. Once again, the lawsuit is our attempt to demand justice because we are part of the Republic of Indonesia," Ahoren said.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party faction of the Papua Legislative Council (DPRD) has called on the House to stop the deliberation of Otsus Law revision. Secretary of the Papua DPRD's Democratic faction Boy Markus Darwin said that Otsus Law revision should not be rushed nor ignore the MRP and DPRD.

He said that his party would meet the Democratic faction of the House on June 22 to convey the thoughts of the Papuan people on the Otsus Law. "That's why today all factions [of the Papua DPRD] unite perceptions before going to Jakarta," he said.

To date, the House is still deliberating the draft bill of the Otsus Law revision. On Thursday, the House's Special Committee for Papua Special Autonomy held a meeting with Home Minister Tito Karnavian to discuss inputs to the bill's problem inventory list.

Source: https://en.jubi.co.id/mrp-mrpb-to-challenge-jokowi-at-constitutional-court-regarding-otsus-law-revision

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