5 Nov 2004

Indonesia sets up peoples' council in Papua province

7:24 am on 5 November 2004

The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono has ordered the establishment of a peoples' council for the Indonesian province of Papua.

The move will start a long-awaited special autonomy for the region.

Susilo Bambang Yudhyono made the order yesterday after meeting the Papua Governor Jaap Salossa.

However, the president says the role of the council can only be social and cultural, and not political.