Below is an article published by: Radio New Zealand International

All factions in Indonesia’s House of Representatives have agreed to pass legislation giving a legal basis for the implementation of special autonomy in West Papua.

West Papua was created from the western part of Indonesia’s Papua province in 2003.

Since West Papua elected a governor in 2006, the administration has not received any special autonomy budget allocations [because of an Indonesian court’s decision holding that the split between West Papua from Papua province was in violation of Papua’s autonomy laws, established in 2001].

The Jakarta Post reports that the government and the House have now agreed on a bill, due to be passed this week, that gives a legal basis for West Papua’s special autonomy.

Members of the House say the government needs to reinforce the legality of West Papua’s existence.

The House also urged the government to evaluate and monitor the resources and allocations of special autonomy budgets both in West Papua and in Papua.