DPR Considers Postponing Discussion On The Papua New Guinea Bill

Capitol Building/Unsplash

JAKARTA - The DPR RI will consider postponing the discussion of the Draft Law (RUU) related to the establishment of the New Autonomous Region (DOB) of Papua Province. After the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) asked for a postponement of the discussion of the 3 Bills for the formation of the Papua New Guinea. It is known, during the last session, the DPR has passed 3 bills. Namely the Bill on the Province of South Papua, the Bill on the Province of Central Papua, and the Bill on the Province of the Central Mountains as proposed by the DPR's initiative.

“Indeed, on April 12, the plenary meeting of the DPR RI ratified three bills for new autonomous regions as proposed bills for the DPR RI initiative. However, with the MRP's input, I will convey to other DPR leaders, including colleagues in Commission II, to consider delaying the DOB Bill until there is a decision by the Constitutional Court (MK)," said Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Wednesday, April 27.

Moreover, said Dasco, the MRP has submitted a judicial review of the Papua Special Autonomy Law to the Constitutional Court (MK). "So, the DPR needs to postpone the discussion until at least the Constitutional Court's decision is made," he said. For information, in the inaugural session held by the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, April 22, online, the applicants argued that the norms in the provisions of Article 6 Paragraph 2, Article 6A, Article 28, Article 38, Article 59 Paragraph 3, Article 68A, Article 76, and Article 77 of the Papua Special Autonomy Law (UU Otsus Papua) No. 2 of 2021 has violated the constitutional rights of indigenous Papuans (OAP).