Dutch MPs confirm their noninterference policy<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Visiting members of the Dutch
\nParliament asserted on Wednesday their country's pledge not to
\nmeddle with the long-standing independence movement in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Spokesperson for the Dutch Parliament delegation Margaretha de
\nBoer told journalists the problems relating to the independence
\ncall could be dealt with only by the Indonesian people.<\/p>\n
She said their presence was not to support the Papuans' demand
\nfor independence, but to listen to the people about the political
\nsituation in Indonesia, including Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
De Boer admitted she was aware that her visit here could evoke
\nmisunderstanding among people who are fighting for their
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
She said her country supported the process of democratization
\nbeing developed in Indonesia under the leadership of President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
De Boer, who represents the Labor Party, said the delegation
\nwanted to see how the process of reform was going on, listen to
\npeople's views on the reform and learned if human rights are
\nrespected in the easternmost province.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with Institute for the Human Rights Studies and
\nAdvocacy (IHRSTAD) and the Roman Catholic Church Office of
\nJustice and Peace on Wednesday, the Dutch delegates met with 20
\nPapuans who claimed to suffer from military abuse.<\/p>\n
One of them, teenager Karolina Onim, who had to use a crutch
\nwhen walking, told the MPs she had been shot in her right leg
\nduring a proindependence rally at the Cendrawasih University
\ncampus on July 3, 1998.<\/p>\n
She said that she was in the building of the Institute of
\nTheology, when a stray bullet hit her leg.<\/p>\n
Military troops invaded the campus to disperse the students.<\/p>\n
The Dutch delegation arrived in Irian Jaya on Tuesday. Apart
\nfrom de Boer, the group consists of AG Koendrs of the Labor
\nParty, Enric Hessing of the Liberal Party, Jon Hookoma of the
\nSpiegel Liberal Party, Marijke Vos and De Gaane of the Green
\nParty and Johan Hommes, the deputy clerk.<\/p>\n
During their visit here, they met with caretaker governor
\nMusiran Darmosuwito, provincial military chief Maj. Gen. Albert
\nIngkiriwang, speaker of provincial legislative council TN Kaiway,
\nchurch representatives and Jayapura-based non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
Irian Jaya's takeover by the United Nations in 1963 marked the
\nend of two and a half centuries of Dutch colonization in the
\nIndonesian archipelago. (eba\/sur)<\/p>",
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