Nether Dharma Somba, Jayapura – Local leaders have decried the results of selection for the Papuan People's Representatives' Council (DPRP), claiming the process was manipulated.

Lembah Baliem, Wamena and Jayawijaya tribal chief Sadek Asso and Pegunungan Tengah Muslim Communication Forum head Ismail Asso on Thursday demanded the Home Ministry refuse to approve 14 newly selected DPRP members representing customary regions, pointing to strong indications of foul play.

"Some of the figures announced by the selection committee were not even registered. How did the committee come up with the names? For example, one person was claimed to represent the customary region of La Pago, but he was never registered in the area. This deception contravenes the rights of the people of La Pago," Sadek told the media in Jayapura on Thursday.

He said he would not only voice protests in the media, but would take legal action. "We will report the alleged fraud to the Papua Police so they can conduct an inquiry and investigation," he said.

The DPRP is a form of legislative institution, particular to Papua, that consists of representatives of political parties and customary regions, as regulated by the 2011 Law on Papua's special autonomy.

The Papua DPRP currently has 56 members; the additional 14 members are required to complete the selection process in the council. The local administration has tasked a selection committee to organize the selection, involving all customary regions in Papua.

Once all DPRP members are selected, the region will hold a selection process for another legislative council, the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), as mandated by the law.

Ismail said some the names announced by the selection committee were already disqualified. "The most striking irregularity is that the 14 names in question have been stated as being disqualified by the selection committee in the regions. Furthermore, one name was passed although the person has not resided in Papua for the last 10 years," he noted.

Papuan Bylaw No. 6/2014 stipulates that appointed DPRP members must be native Papuans and Indonesian citizens who have been residing in Papua for at least 10 years consecutively. "Some of the names announced have not resided in Papua for 10 years consecutively," Ismail claimed.

Papua provincial first assistant secretary Doren Wakerkwa also firmly denounced the figures announced by the selection committee. "The names announced have not properly accommodated the indigenous regions, so a reselection must be carried out. The Papua provincial administration has received many reports regarding the recruitment conducted by the selection committee, rife with allegations of fraud," he said.

Earlier, the DPRP member selection committee announced 42 names of candidates selected from five customary regions. Of the 42 names, 14 were selected as definitive DPRP members. Three of the 14 were from the customary region of Me Pago, four were from La Pago, three from Saireri and two from both of Ha Anim and Mamta.

The MRP has yet to initiate the selection of new MRP members given the ongoing DPRP selection process, in accordance with the Papua Special Autonomy Law.

The DPRP selection will influence the number of MRP members as per the regulation stipulating that the number of MRP members should be equal to 75 percent of the number of DPRP members.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/07/15/papua-s-local-leaders-slam-dprp-selection-process.html