Head of Papua Election Commission, Adam Arisoy (Jubi)
Jayapura, 17/2 (Jubi) – The ‘Noken’ system that was used in Papua in both presidential, legislative and local elections will no longer be implemented in the next elections.
The Chairman of Papua Election Commission, Adam Arisoy said the decision was made because there was no legal basis for the use of noken (a Papuan traditional bag) in the next election.
The decision of Constitutional Court No 48 2011 only regulates the use of Noken System in elections for local leaders at regency or mayoralty levels in Papua.
“We will keep disseminating information on the prohibition of the Noken system. In the legislative election, people have to cast the ballots themselves at the polling station because the representative system will not be applied in both presidential and legislative elections,” Arisoy said on Monday (17/2).
He said the Papua Election Commission has sent a letter to the Central Election Commission related to the prohibition of Noken but it had not received a response.
“We have submitted a draft to be discussed by the Central Election Commission regarding this issue. But it is said that the decision of the Constitutional Court is final. We hope to get support from our colleagues to file a judicial review to the Constitutional Court, who knows there is a solution,” he said.
Meanwhile the Chairman of DPR Papua’s Commission A on law and human rights, Ruben Magay said that the Noken System in Papua should be maintained because it is a part of local wisdom.
There is a democratic value in this system, which is consensus, he said.
“This tradition has been practised by communities, especially the communities of highlands areas of Papua since long time ago. The noken system is a direct system, open and free. There is no secret. It adheres the principle of deliberation and consensus,” said Magai.
He said before people cast their votes for presidential or legislative candidates, they discussed it first to determine to whom they would give their votes.
“Afterwards, the chiefs will vote to a candidate that was previously assigned by the people. It happens through a process,” he said. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
