'Illegal' polling on Irian's fate underway<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Biak Military chief Lt. Col. Bayu
\nPurwiyono confirmed on Thursday reports that residents of at
\nleast 10 villages in the regency had been asked to respond to a
\npoll checking their attitude toward a campaign to set up an
\nindependent state in the province.<\/p>\n
The officer said people in the districts of West Biak, West
\nNumfor and East Numfor received the forms from certain people,
\nwho claimed to be carrying out a government-sanctioned survey.<\/p>\n
Bayu denied the military's involvement in the polling. "I
\nnever ordered the distribution of any such questionnaires. And I
\ndo not know from where they came," he added.<\/p>\n
Oschar Kabarek, head of West Biak district, alleged that some
\nmilitary personnel were involved in distributing the forms to the
\nPapuans. The polling has been conducted since the day after the
\nPapuan Congress agreed on June 4 to the separation of Irian Jaya
\nfrom Indonesia.<\/p>\n
According to Oschar, the respondents are asked to reply
\nwhether they choose a special autonomy for the province or to
\nbecome an independent state.<\/p>\n
"I have informed the West Biak Military chief about the
\npolling, and he promised to withdraw the forms quickly from the
\nvillages," Oschar told The Jakarta Post by phone.<\/p>\n
Leo Wamafma, a Protestant church leader, and Izhak B. Wamafma,
\nchief of Wansra village in West Numfor, claimed to see on June 11
\na soldier visit the village and ask the people to fill out the
\nforms.<\/p>\n
During the door-to-door survey, the soldier told the villagers
\nto participate in the state polling, said Leo.<\/p>\n
"Some of the villagers accepted the forms while many just
\nreturned the empty forms," said Izhak.<\/p>\n
Ottis Alber Msen, a member of the Biak legislative council,
\ndeplored the polling because it could provoke new unrest in the
\nterritory.<\/p>\n
"The purpose of the polling is just to create chaos," said
\nOttis. (eba)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-polling-on-irians-fate-underway-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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