Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – The newly elected members of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) took office on Monday in a ceremony that was notable for the heavy police presence.
About 600 officers were at the governor's office to guard the ceremony, which was protested by about 100 people from the Front for West Papua Struggle, who said the election of the council members was illegitimate because religious institutions in the province had been shut out of the process.
The 42 members of the MRP were elected by selected tribal groups, religious groups and women's groups.
During the protest, the group demanded that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono revoke the results of the election. There was no violence during the protest, which broke up after about an hour. Police prevented protesters from meeting with Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, who inaugurated the MRP members on behalf of the President.
A leader of the protesters, Selpius Bobii, said the government had one month to respond to the group's complaints. "If our demand is not unheeded, we will take to the streets and call on all Papuans to go on strike on November 28," Bobii said.
Ma'ruf said the new council would ensure the human rights and customary rights of all Papuans, as well as protecting democracy, pluralism, equality and the supremacy of the law in Papua.
The minister also said the members of the council had been democratically elected and had been approved by all relevant groups.
The MRP members, who will serve for five years, are equally divided into three working groups representing tribes, religious groups and women's groups.
According to Government Regulation No. 54/2004, which was signed last December, the council represents indigenous Papuan culture and wields special powers covering the protection of traditional rights, the empowerment of women and the promotion of religious harmony. The council has the power to approve gubernatorial candidates when the candidates are native Papuans, provide recommendations and approve any form of cooperation between the Papuan administration and other parties, and give opinions on and endorse the establishment of new administrative regions.
Papua Governor JP Solossa will officially end his term on Nov. 23, but the lengthy process of electing and installing the MRP members has delayed the election for his successor.
The council oversees Papua province only, which has been separated from West Irian Jaya province. The Law on Special Autonomy for Papua, which mandated the establishment of the MRP, refers to Papua as the province before the split early last year.
Ma'ruf said the council was expected to help Papua reduce the development gap with other provinces, improve the welfare of residents and create opportunities for residents to develop under the unitary state of Indonesia.
Papua is rich in natural resources but has lagged behind other regions in terms of development.
Also attending the inauguration ceremony on Monday were Solossa, West Irian Jaya interim governor Timbul Pujianto, Trikora Military Command head Maj. Gen. George Toisutta, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Dody Sumantyawan and members of the Papua and West Irian Jaya legislative councils.