Nethy Dharma Somba – The election of Hana S Hikoyabi as a member of the Papua People Assembly (MRP) representing women has been rejected by the Home Ministry for the 2011-2016 term due to suspicion of separatism activities.

"I have asked for clarification according to the prevailing regulation but was rejected. I was informed of the rejection by the director general of regional autonomy on April 29, 2011 in Jakarta," Hana told The Jakarta Post via cell phone Tuesday.

Hana was not on the list of 73 elected members of the MRP inaugurated on April 18, with officials saying that she did not meet some requirements.

Hana, who was a deputy MRP speaker during the 2005-2010 term, said she traveled to Jakarta for clarification but she was rejected.

She was considered disrespectful toward Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution after she was seen returning the red-and-white flag during a rally in June 2010 to protest the central government's policy on special autonomy.

While denying the accusation, she said circumstances at the time were not conducive to rejecting protesters demand for a meeting at the MRP. "Saying no could have meant losing your life," she said.

Councilor Sophia Maipauw of the West Papua Regional Representatives (DPD) criticized the Home Ministry's rejection of Hana's MRP membership, considering that she was elected by the people.

"Papua women entrusted her with becoming a member of the MRP because she is considered capable of struggling for the rights of indigenous Papuan women. Not inaugurating her means hurting the hearts of Papuan women," Sophia said. Sophia said suspicion of separatism should not prevent the government from inaugurating her as an MRP member in order to enable the supervision and monitoring of her movements.