Wamena, Jubi – The Ministry of Home Affairs plan to accelerate the inauguration of the acting governors of the three New Autonomous Regions (DOB) in Papua land at the end of October is considered too hasty by the Chairman of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP), Timotius Murib.
Murib when contacted by Jubi on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, said that from the beginning the central government seemed to rush everything, from making changes to the Special Autonomy Law, forming DOBs, and then inaugurating the acting governors and filling the MRP with new representatives.
According to Murib, there is no need to change the number of MRP members as it is a representation of the number of Papuan Legislative Council (DPRP) members.
“So, the MRP members represent two-thirds of the DPRP members. With the new provinces, which members of the DPRP that we are referring to? Is it the original DPRP or the council of the new provinces? “he said. He added that the new provinces had yet to fill in members of its council.
“There must be a consistent process, I wonder how today’s leaders of the Indonesian government are all emotional. That’s why the MRP provides input and suggestions so that every process must be in accordance with the rules, not violating the rules,” he said.
He assessed that both the central government and the House were on the same page of accelerating Papua expansion despite violating all rules.
“Of course, the filling of the acting governor has been designed by the central government, The people, in this case, the MRP cannot do much because this is the wish of Jakarta, it has landed according to their will,” he said.
Murib said the MRP continued to oversee all policies that have been carried out by the central government, ensuring it protected the lives of indigenous Papuans.
“Papuans need life, not development. Development is good but if it is done in ways that are not appropriate and far from the grassroots, I think there will be violations of human rights and basic rights of Indigenous Papuans,” he said.
Previously, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Wempi Wetipo said the Ministry would accelerate the process of inaugurating acting governors and forming government structures in the three new provinces, namely Mountainous Papua, Central Papua and South Papua.
“The law stipulates that the acting governor should be appointed at the latest six months after the law is passed, meaning in January 2023. However, we are accelerating the process. The inauguration of government structures of the three new provinces will take place at the end of October 2022,” Wetipo said. (*)
