Veronica Koman Slams Closed Meeting on Papua Special Autonomy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human rights activist and lawyer for Papua, Veronica Koman, on Thursday questioned the Indonesian government’s commitment to accommodate the participation of Papuan indigenous in the ‘Papua Special Autonomy Bill’ as she said House members plan to hold the meeting behind closed doors on Monday, May 31. 

“It’s funny when the meeting’s verdict states that the special autonomy will be done with the participation of Papuan residents, but is a complete contrast as on Monday the meeting will be held in a closed meeting,” said Veronica Koman to Tempo on Thursday, May 27.

By not involving local participation, she believes the closed meeting on the Papua special autonomy by the House of Representatives ignores the Papua special autonomy itself. “What the DPR is doing is an oxymoron. And now they plan to hold a closed meeting, this is truly merely theatrical.”

The Bill on the special autonomy is currently being discussed at the House of Representatives (DPR) by an appointed special committee. The two aspects subject to revision are the extension of the special autonomy funds and the central government’s authority in the expansion area. 

According to Komarudin Watubun, who leads the Papua special autonomy special committee, the discussion on the Bill is already being conducted openly and in participative way. He claimed the committee had visited Papua and West Papua twice in an attempt to convey that the House is openly discussing the issue.

Read: State Intelligence Pushes for the Passing of Papua Special Autonomy Law

BUDIARTI UTAMI PUTRI