Jakarta/Brussels, 9 April 2003: A new briefing paper published today by the International Crisis Group, Dividing Papua: How Not To Do It*, a copy of which is attached, is highly critical of a Presidential Instruction issued in Jakarta on 27 January 2003 to divide Papua, now one province, into three. Promulgation of the decree, without any consultation with key Papuan leaders, has created serious tensions that could result in violence – particularly as the 2004 elections approach.
ICG's Asia Program Director Robert Templer said:
“The Presidential Instruction undercuts a special autonomy law passed by the parliament in November 2001 and has thrown Papua's administrative status into legal limbo. It has done more to create tension and turmoil in Papua than any government action in years”.
The official reason given for dividing Papua was to bring government closer to the people and facilitate economic development. It was argued that it would be impossible for one governor to administer Papua's 28 districts spread over a huge and remote area. However, the real reasons are almost certainly very different.
“President Megawati apparently issued this decree in an effort to weaken the Papuan independence movement”, ICG's Indonesia Project Director Sidney Jones said. “But dividing the province could also help Megawati's PDIP party and weaken its main rival, Golkar. Already we're seeing a scramble by some local politicians to join the pro-division camp in the hope of getting access to power, wealth, or both in the new provinces”.
The Presidential Instruction or Inpres undermines moderate intellectuals who saw special autonomy as a way of strengthening Papuan institutions and encouraging independence supporters to work within the Indonesian state. Resentment and distrust of central government by Papuans is likely to increase, with leaders of both pro- and anti-division groups expected to mobilise their supporters.
The Inpres effectively throws away the special autonomy package that had been laboriously worked out through a process that genuinely seemed to be democracy at work. But there is little chance that the Inpres will be revoked now, despite the widespread criticism of the move throughout Papua. The best that can be hoped for is that the government will delay implementation and work on a broader consensus.
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Francesca Lawe-Davies (Brussels) +32-(0)2-536.00.65
Jennifer Leonard (Washington) +1-202-785 1601
*Read the full ICG report on our website:
www.crisisweb.org
