Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Despite a government-imposed moratorium, the House of Representatives proposed the creation of 20 new regional administration units on Tuesday.

"We will submit around 20 bills on new regional administration units to the government. We are hoping to get a written response on [these proposals]," said Ganjar Pranowo, the deputy chairman of House Commission II, which oversees home affairs.

Ganjar, a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said that the House is proposing the creation of North Kalimantan province as well as 19 new districts across the country.

Indonesia imposed a moratorium on the creation of new regions after the death of a senior politician in North Sumatra. Abdul Aziz Angkat, 51, from the Golkar Party, died in February 2009 after he was mobbed during a violent protest by 2,000 angry protesters demanding the establishment of a breakaway province called Tapanuli.

Ganjar said that the moratorium is only a government policy, while the laws and regulations allowing for the formation of new provinces and districts have not been annulled. With existing regulations still technically in effect, Ganjar said, there had been continuous pressure for the House to endorse new regions.

On Tuesday, members of House Commission II met with a group of people demanding the creation of Southwest Papua province. Southwest Papua is not among the 20 new regional administrations proposed by the House on Tuesday.

"We are urging the government to take a firm stand, to continue with [creating new regions] or stop the program altogether. Don't leave it vague like this," Ganjar said.

Indonesia is currently composed of 33 provinces, with 398 districts and 93 municipalities. Since 2008, seven new provinces, 173 new districts and 35 new municipalities have been created.