Today 27th of April 2022 in the Jakarta Post
The government has said it will comply with the Constitutional Court’s upcoming decision on a petition for judicial review filed by the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) last year that challenge several provisions in the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law.
The statement came after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s meeting on Monday with representatives from the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) that extensively discussed the 2021 law, which amended a previous law on special autonomy in Papua.
The 2021 amendment includes a provision that allows the House of Representatives and the government to create new provinces, municipalities and regencies in the country’s easternmost region without the approval of the MRP or regional legislative councils (DPRP). In the law’s previous edition, the creation of new administrative areas required green-lighting by the two institutions.
The MRP filed its petition last year challenging several some provisions in the 2021 amendment, including those that allowed bypassing MRP and DPRP approval in establishing new administrative regions in Papua.
Monday’s meeting marked the first time the President had met with the MRP after the House endorsed three new bills earlier this month on the creation of the new provinces of South Papua, Central Papua and the Papua Central Highlands.
The MRP had previously called on the House and the government to postpone the bills’ deliberation citing the ongoing legal process. It also stressed that establishing new provinces in the region was “not the only [solution] to bring prosperity to Papuans”.
According to a statement released on Monday by the MRP, the President said the government would comply with the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the 2021 law, but stopped short of confirming that the government would postpone its plan to form the new provinces.
“Regarding the process to amend the Papuan Special Autonomy Law, according to the reports that I have received, it was conducted with the involvement of the House, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) as well as DPRPs and the MRP,” Jokowi said, as quoted in the MRP’s statement.
“If there are provisions that are under judicial review at the Constitutional Court, we will respect and comply with the court’s decision.”
Jokowi also said that creating new provinces “was not an easy matter”, adding that it needed further ed with the government.
Speaking after the meeting, Coordinating Political, Legal and Human Rights Affairs Minister Mahfud M.D. said that the majority of Papuans supported the plan.
“According to a survey, 82 percent of Papuans demanded the creation of new [administrative regions],” he said.
MRP deputy chairperson Yoel Luiz Mulait refuted Mahfud’s claim, saying that the majority of Papuans opposed the creation of new provinces.
"We question the survey because so far, according to the people’s aspirations gathered by the MRP” the majority oppose the plan, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Yoel said the government should conduct studies on Papua’s society and culture, human resources, basic infrastructure, the local economy and future developments before deciding to form new provinces in the region.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid, who accompanied the MRP to its meeting with the President, criticized Jakarta unilateral policy on forming new provinces, arguing that the plan neglected the views of the Papuan people.
He also expressed concern that the policy, if it went ahead, would only increase tensions in the restive region and would lead to more violations of human rights.
House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a Gerindra Party politician, met with the MRP on Tuesday.
“I will tell the other House [speakers] to delay the deliberation of the three bills until the Constitutional Court ruling has been issued,” he said afterward.
The House, which had pushed for accelerated deliberation on the three bills, said on Tuesday after Sufmi’s meeting with the MRP that it was now considering postponing the bills’ deliberations.
The government has said it will comply with the Constitutional Court’s upcoming decision on a petition for judicial review filed by the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) last year that challenge several provisions in the 2021 Papua Special Autonomy Law.
The statement came after President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s meeting on Monday with representatives from the Papuan People’s Assembly (MRP) that extensively discussed the 2021 law, which amended a previous law on special autonomy in Papua.
The 2021 amendment includes a provision that allows the House of Representatives and the government to create new provinces, municipalities and regencies in the country’s easternmost region without the approval of the MRP or regional legislative councils (DPRP). In the law’s previous edition, the creation of new administrative areas required green-lighting by the two institutions.
The MRP filed its petition last year challenging several some provisions in the 2021 amendment, including those that allowed bypassing MRP and DPRP approval in establishing new administrative regions in Papua.
Monday’s meeting marked the first time the President had met with the MRP after the House endorsed three new bills earlier this month on the creation of the new provinces of South Papua, Central Papua and the Papua Central Highlands.
The MRP had previously called on the House and the government to postpone the bills’ deliberation citing the ongoing legal process. It also stressed that establishing new provinces in the region was “not the only [solution] to bring prosperity to Papuans”.
According to a statement released on Monday by the MRP, the President said the government would comply with the Constitutional Court’s decision regarding the 2021 law, but stopped short of confirming that the government would postpone its plan to form the new provinces.
“Regarding the process to amend the Papuan Special Autonomy Law, according to the reports that I have received, it was conducted with the involvement of the House, the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) as well as DPRPs and the MRP,” Jokowi said, as quoted in the MRP’s statement.
“If there are provisions that are under judicial review at the Constitutional Court, we will respect and comply with the court’s decision.”
Jokowi also said that creating new provinces “was not an easy matter”, adding that it needed further ed with the government.
Speaking after the meeting, Coordinating Political, Legal and Human Rights Affairs Minister Mahfud M.D. said that the majority of Papuans supported the plan.
“According to a survey, 82 percent of Papuans demanded the creation of new [administrative regions],” he said.
MRP deputy chairperson Yoel Luiz Mulait refuted Mahfud’s claim, saying that the majority of Papuans opposed the creation of new provinces.
"We question the survey because so far, according to the people’s aspirations gathered by the MRP” the majority oppose the plan, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Yoel said the government should conduct studies on Papua’s society and culture, human resources, basic infrastructure, the local economy and future developments before deciding to form new provinces in the region.
Amnesty International Indonesia executive director Usman Hamid, who accompanied the MRP to its meeting with the President, criticized Jakarta unilateral policy on forming new provinces, arguing that the plan neglected the views of the Papuan people.
He also expressed concern that the policy, if it went ahead, would only increase tensions in the restive region and would lead to more violations of human rights.
House Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, a Gerindra Party politician, met with the MRP on Tuesday.
“I will tell the other House [speakers] to delay the deliberation of the three bills until the Constitutional Court ruling has been issued,” he said afterward.
The House, which had pushed for accelerated deliberation on the three bills, said on Tuesday after Sufmi’s meeting with the MRP that it was now considering postponing the bills’ deliberations.
Our good friends of Awex are organising for the Walon companies (other companies welcome at separate conditions) a trade visit to Indonesia as per below.
If interested please feel free to contact me or contact Isabelle directly.
As BIA we are trying to get a group interested in mid November to join in attending the B20 in Bali in connection with the G 20 at that time in Bali.
Please let us know if any interest.
Thanks and warm greetings
Johan Lubbe Bakker
office Benelux Indonesia Association
office@beneluxindonesia.eu
www.beneluxindonesia.eu
From: POLLET Isabelle <i.pollet@awex.be>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 4:02 PM
To: office@beneluxindonesia.eu <office@beneluxindonesia.eu>
Cc: HAUMONT Yaël <y.haumont@awex.be>; VAN OVERSTRAETEN Christophe <c.vanoverstraeten@awex-wallonia.com>
Subject: AWEX - Economic mission to Indonesia 12 - 18 June 2022
Good morning,
I had the pleasure to attend the launching of the Benelux-Indonesia Association last September.
I am getting back to you to announce the trade mission Awex is organizing next June from 12 till 18. The delegation will visit Jakarta and Surabaya.
It is a multisectoral mission but with a focus on greentechs. All the information is available on this page of our website. Registrations are open until 8 May.
We would really appreciate if you could disseminate this information.
Our trade commissioner in Jakarta, Mr Christophe Van Overstraeten is reading us in cc.
Do not hesitate to get back to us for any question.
We thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Isabelle POLLET (Ms)
Area Manager
Southeast Asia & Oceania
Tel : +32 2 421 84 40
Mob : +32 472 38 28 26
i.pollet@awex.be
www.awex.be
www.investinwallonia.be
If interested please feel free to contact me or contact Isabelle directly.
As BIA we are trying to get a group interested in mid November to join in attending the B20 in Bali in connection with the G 20 at that time in Bali.
Please let us know if any interest.
Thanks and warm greetings
Johan Lubbe Bakker
office Benelux Indonesia Association
office@beneluxindonesia.eu
www.beneluxindonesia.eu
From: POLLET Isabelle <i.pollet@awex.be>
Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2022 4:02 PM
To: office@beneluxindonesia.eu <office@beneluxindonesia.eu>
Cc: HAUMONT Yaël <y.haumont@awex.be>; VAN OVERSTRAETEN Christophe <c.vanoverstraeten@awex-wallonia.com>
Subject: AWEX - Economic mission to Indonesia 12 - 18 June 2022
Good morning,
I had the pleasure to attend the launching of the Benelux-Indonesia Association last September.
I am getting back to you to announce the trade mission Awex is organizing next June from 12 till 18. The delegation will visit Jakarta and Surabaya.
It is a multisectoral mission but with a focus on greentechs. All the information is available on this page of our website. Registrations are open until 8 May.
We would really appreciate if you could disseminate this information.
Our trade commissioner in Jakarta, Mr Christophe Van Overstraeten is reading us in cc.
Do not hesitate to get back to us for any question.
We thank you in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Isabelle POLLET (Ms)
Area Manager
Southeast Asia & Oceania
Tel : +32 2 421 84 40
Mob : +32 472 38 28 26
i.pollet@awex.be
www.awex.be
www.investinwallonia.be
Dear Readers,
officially launched now on the 8th of June 2021 and we are open for memberships, activities etc.
Already BIA has been able to assist some companies resolving some problems in Indonesia on permits, questions and difficult situations.
In case you encounter some need for clarity or if you are interested in opportunities in Indonesia we have a large list of projects that are open for investments as well as some need of direct purchases.
Vice versa in case you need some products from Indonesia we also helped on getting ships space and many exporters are looking for off takers for their industrial and agriculture products.
When you look to expand your business into Indonesia we will be happy to discuss and if you are working in Indonesia already, we will be happy to assist and support in a wide range of fields with our wide in-depth network of experienced people.
For Indonesian companies who wish to start or develop further activities in Europe especially BeNeLux we will be happy to inform on regulations and legal matter and introduce you to the right people and potential clients/markets.
Looking forward on any reaction or contact, please do not hesitate to contact us at office@beneluxindonesia.eu
Yours
Johan Lubbe Bakker
BIA (BeNeLux Indonesia Association ivzw)
officially launched now on the 8th of June 2021 and we are open for memberships, activities etc.
Already BIA has been able to assist some companies resolving some problems in Indonesia on permits, questions and difficult situations.
In case you encounter some need for clarity or if you are interested in opportunities in Indonesia we have a large list of projects that are open for investments as well as some need of direct purchases.
Vice versa in case you need some products from Indonesia we also helped on getting ships space and many exporters are looking for off takers for their industrial and agriculture products.
When you look to expand your business into Indonesia we will be happy to discuss and if you are working in Indonesia already, we will be happy to assist and support in a wide range of fields with our wide in-depth network of experienced people.
For Indonesian companies who wish to start or develop further activities in Europe especially BeNeLux we will be happy to inform on regulations and legal matter and introduce you to the right people and potential clients/markets.
Looking forward on any reaction or contact, please do not hesitate to contact us at office@beneluxindonesia.eu
Yours
Johan Lubbe Bakker
BIA (BeNeLux Indonesia Association ivzw)
Our Wednesday weekly zoom 10.00 hrs AM CET or 16.00 hrs Jakarta Time are getting more and more attention and lively. Friends of BIA can express their interests and proposals as well as projects. if interested please email us at office@beneluxindonesia.eu .

BIA was present at the launching of the Indonesia -European Parliamentary Friendship Group (IEPFG) 2021-2021 on Tuesday 9th of November 2021 At the Indonesian Residence on Avenue de Tervueren Brussels. Always great atmosphere in good friendship. Very important for the CEPA discussions that are very important for the economical growth in the different regions.
Jogja International Batik Biennale is held to promote Jogjakarta and Batik, Jogja's cultural heritage, to the global audience.
we are honoured to have been invited to participate on the 6th of November 2021. A truly global event. Congratulations to the Yogya organizers.
we are honoured to have been invited to participate on the 6th of November 2021. A truly global event. Congratulations to the Yogya organizers.