Govt cold shoulders Irian Jaya independence bid<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi confirmed on
\nSaturday the government's disapproval of demands for independence
\nfrom the country's easternmost province.<\/p>\n
"The demand for independence raised by a group of Irianese
\nbefore President B.J. Habibie recently met with government
\nopposition," Freddy said upon arrival from Jakarta at Sentani
\nAirport in Jayapura.<\/p>\n
He said Habibie asked the delegation to reconsider the demand
\nduring the Feb. 26 dialog at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
"This means that the President does not agree with the idea to
\nestablish an independent state in West Papua," he said.<\/p>\n
A separatist campaign launched by the Free Papua Movement
\n(OPM) for several decades appears derived from discontent at
\ndivision of mining revenues in the mineral-rich province.<\/p>\n
Freddy said the Irian Jaya Reconciliation Forum-sponsored
\ndialog failed to attain its goals because the delegation returned
\nhome with nothing significant.<\/p>\n
"Those Irianese representatives should have not raised the
\ndemand for independence, but spoken about necessities to develop
\nthe province instead," he said.<\/p>\n
Despite the failure, Freddy, also a Navy commodore, said the
\ndialog should serve as a reminder for the government to pay more
\nattention to the Irianese people's aspirations.<\/p>\n
He said the province needed huge funding for development of
\nquality local human resources.<\/p>\n
"The program to groom native Irianese who will take over
\npublic administrative jobs here has not worked. The failure has
\ncaused the province to lag behind its counterparts," Freddy said.<\/p>\n
The governor also warned Irianese people against possible
\nprovocation in the wake of continuing tension in neighboring
\nMaluku province.<\/p>\n
"The unabated clashes in Ambon, Maluku, have turned into
\nethnic and religious conflicts. Therefore, people in Irian Jaya
\nshould stay on alert for a possible spillover of unrest," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Although security and public order in Irian Jaya are under
\ncontrol, Freddy called on all people to remain vigilant of
\nprovocateurs who might infiltrate the province.<\/p>\n
He denied reports on expulsion of migrants from the province,
\nstating that Irian belonged to the nation and all Indonesians
\nwere entitled to reside there.<\/p>\n
He said the autonomy offered by the government seemed most
\nsuitable for Irian Jaya's progress.<\/p>\n
"A wide-ranging autonomy will allow us to control our own
\nregion. Therefore, it is better for Irian Jaya people to accept
\nthe offer rather than to demand for an unrealistic thing."<\/p>\n
He said the government earmarked Rp 3 trillion from the state
\nbudget to boost development in the province.<\/p>\n
"Without sufficient funds, it is impossible for Irian Jaya to
\ncatch up with the other provinces," he said. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-cold-shoulders-irian-jaya-independence-bid-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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