Nethy Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Papua needs a mediating force to oversee an effective implementation of special autonomy, similar to that in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, a religious leader in Jayapura said Friday.

Director of the Peace and Justice Secretariat (SKP), Brother Budi Hernawan, delivered the proposal in response to a bill on the formation of four new provinces in Papua.

"In order to implement special autonomy effectively, there should be a catalyst, like the Helsinki agreement. The presence of a third party must be mutually recognized by both parties, like what has been accomplished in Aceh," he said.

He said the 2001 law on Papua's special autonomy had entered its sixth year, but had yet to be implemented consistently. The law was enacted to give Papua greater autonomy and quell separatist aspirations in the region. The latest dispute centers on a draft law at the House of Representatives in Jakarta to divide Papua into four provinces.

The Papua Legislative Council and the Papua People's Assembly (MRP) say they never issued a recommendation for the proposal. The House, according to councilor SP Morin, claims the separation proposal was based on an agreement letter from the Papua legislature and the MRP.

According to MRP Deputy Speaker Frans Wospakrik, a number of people's representatives in Papua earlier met with assembly members to convey their aspirations, but the MRP has thus far not agreed to any of the recommendations.

Papua legislators decided to reject the separation proposition. They are unsure who sent the disputed letter of recommendation.

"They enacted Law No.21/2001 (on special autonomy) and are aware of the separation process in Papua, but they have also proposed the division of the province outside the procedures spelled out in the law. They no longer care about the special autonomy law," said Budi.

Papuans, said Budi, oppose the division of the province. They long for welfare improvement, as stipulated in the special autonomy law. Only those with vested interests want separation in the name of the people, he said.

A press release from the Papua Religious Leaders Joint Forum (FKPPA) said the division of the province would create new tensions and encourage the formation of regions based on tribal and religious affiliations.

The FKPPA called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to quash the draft law. It said the special autonomy law would be ineffective in the absence of a mediating party directly overseeing the implementation of special autonomy, especially for the sake of people's welfare in Papua.

A third party is crucial in Papua in order to prevent the legislative and executive institutions from breaching the law on special autonomy, it said.