Papuan people want only one People’s Assembly (MRP) for the entirety of native Papuan land because they fear that separate MRPs will lead to disparity in policy and decision making with regard to the protection of the basic rights of indigenous Papuans, a local community figure said.
Speaking in response to the installation of West Papua MRP chairman, MRP member Yoram Wambrauw, who represents the MRP’s customary faction, said Friday that the Assembly had the task of making sure that the indigenous Papuans remained in existence and would not become extinct in the region.
West Papua Governor Abraham O. Atururi swore in new board members of the province’s MRP on Wednesday amid criticism that it violated a consensus that there should be only one MRP in Papua.
The swearing-in ceremony, which was held a week after the election of board members in Manokwari, was attended by 11 of the 33 MRP members elected from West Papua province.
The 33 West Papua MRP members were inaugurated by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi in April together with 40 members elected from the province of Papua.
“That has been our philosophy regarding why Papuans want only one MRP, even though new provinces will be established in the region in the future,” said Yoram, who is still also acting speaker of the MRP as elected Assembly board members have yet to be been sworn in.
He said that if each of the provinces in Papua had its own MRP and each MRP had different policies regarding the protection of indigenous Papuans’ rights, it would lead to neglect of development focused on Papuans.
“If this is the case (the establishment of another MRP) violates the spirit of Papuan special autonomy, as it does not generate social benefits, which means that the autonomy cannot solve issues and will instead create new social problems,” Yoram said.
Yoram went on to say that the issue is also related to the “One for Two and Two but One” philosophy mentioned by Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu on Feb. 20, 2007 during a meeting with the West Papua governor on Mansinam Island, Manokwari, West Papua.
“This means that culturally, naturally and customarily the greater Papuan tribe is one, but administratively is two: Papua and West Papua provinces,” he said quoting Barnabas’s statement regarding the motto.
Papua councilor Julius Miagoni expressed concern that the establishment a West Papua MRP could lead to horizontal conflict between Papuans, especially because of the reported consensus that there should be only one MRP in Papua.
“The Home Affairs Minister has to stop the MRP activities in West Papua because he acknowledges that the consensus is there,” Julius told reporters in Jayapura, on Friday.
Institute for Civil Strengthening (ICS) Papua director Budi Setyanto saw interests in Jakarta intending to split the unity of Papuans by establishing a MRP in West Papua.