Awaiting Proof

Special autonomy will swell the income of the Irian Jaya regional government. But will that soften the push for independence?

October 23, 2001

For Irian Jaya governor J.P. Salossa, the Draft Law on Special Autonomy for Papua Province represents the final gamble. Now people in every corner of the province are waiting to hear the results of the bill's debate. Pro-independence protests have eased. But they can always start up again. "If the result is unsatisfactory, we cannot guarantee that the people of Irian Jaya will not act again," said Salossa. His statement is clearly directed a...

More Articles