S

eventy-three members of the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) are /

to be unveiled on Tuesday by Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi.

The total number of members are 75 — 42 from Papua and 33 from West Papua. But two, Agus Alue Alua and Hana Hikoyobi, are not among the gallery, said Didi Agus P., administration official in charge of political affairs.

Agus Alua and Hana were MRP chair and vice chair for the 2005-2010 period.

Agus Alua passed away on April 8 reportedly from a heart attack while Hana will not be inaugurated because “she has yet to meet administrative requirements”. Didi declined to elaborate on these requirements, but said they were included in the special autonomy law.

Speculations on Hana’s suspended inauguration were around widespread protests held early this year against the special autonomy policy, which marred the buildup to the appointment of MRP members.

At the time there were rallies against the MRP member appointments and calls to the central government for the return of special autonomy, including demands for dialogue between the Indonesian government and Papuans, mediated by a third party.

The demands were based on a consultative meeting by Papuans from June 7 to 10 last year at the MRP office.

Didi viewed that opposition was not a product of the MRP.

Eight MRP members from the previous period have been re-elected this year. Didi said the elected members whose appointments were postponed had been given 14 days to clarify to the Home Ministry team and another 14 days for the appointment process.

“They will be sworn in after that, but if they fail to pass selection, the next candidates will be appointed. If Hana is not elected, the second candidate in line from her constituency will be proposed,” he said.

The police and Indonesian Military (TNI) in Papua have stated they are prepared to secure the MRP swearing-in ceremony, Papua Police operational chief Sr. Comr. Rudolf A. Rodja in Jayapura said Monday.

“This is a big event, so we need extra security,” said Rudolf.

He added that security personnel would be posted at each critical point such as at the airport, hotels and the governor’s office.

“We will secure the airport and swearing-in venue,” he said.

He added police would frisk elected MRP members and their relatives, guests and journalists, so the ceremony would run peacefully.

MRP members’ duties include providing recommendations to the government, especially on development and efforts to improve the rights of native Papuans. West Papua has recently proposed it has its own MRP.

However, Papua Vice Governor Alex Hesegem said, “The MRP was mandated by the 2001 Special Autonomy Law for Papua. If West Papua wants to establish an MRP, the law must be amended.”

Meanwhile, Fajar Timur Theological Institute head Father Neles Tebay has urged the government to postpone the swearing-in ceremony to honor Agus Alue Alua.

“Because the first MRP head, Agus Alue Alua, has recently passed away, it would be wise if the central government and provincial administration postpone the swearing-in ceremony of the new MRP members in a show of respect,” Tebay told Antara in Jayapura on Sunday.