Irianese hope Gus Dur will bring solutions<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Irianese say they are ready for
\nPresident Abdurrahman Wahid's year-end visit and are hopeful that
\nthe visit will resolve widespread alleged human rights abuse
\ncases in the easternmost province.<\/p>\n
The Irianese, many of whom opt to call themselves Papuans,
\nsaid that the President's visit would be meaningful if it could
\nimprove the relationship between the Papuans and the government
\nof Indonesia.<\/p>\n
John Rumbiak, a consultant for the Institute of Human Rights
\nStudies and Advocacy said Papuans were waiting for the
\nPresident's response to the alleged rights abuses, which are said
\nto have taken place for more than 30 years.<\/p>\n
He said Gus Dur, as the President is popularly called, may
\nhave some awareness about the alleged rights violations in Irian
\nJaya.<\/p>\n
\"However, since Gus Dur has yet to directly hear from the
\nvictims of the violations, a face-to-face dialog with the
\nPapuans, especially the victims of the rights abuses, is
\nimperative,\" John said.<\/p>\n
Demands for independence have been raised across the province
\ndue to alleged widespread unresolved rights violations in the
\npast and unfair revenue sharing from mining exploitation
\nventures.<\/p>\n
Farmer Nas Apasaray told The Jakarta Post it was expected that
\nthe President would bring good news to the Irianese.<\/p>\n
\"We just hope that he has perceived the root of the problems.
\nI do believe that he will be able to offer a democratic and
\npeaceful solution to settle the case,\" Apasaray said.<\/p>\n
He added that no one had any intention of barring the
\nPresident from visiting Irian Jaya. \"Welcome to West Papua. We
\nPapuans are peaceful people.\"<\/p>\n
Another welcoming remark was made by Yoseph Rumaseb, a youth
\nfrom Biak, who said that the President was expected to respond
\npositively to the Papuans' complaints about alleged rampant
\nrights abuses in the province, home to one of the world's largest
\ngold and cooper mining ventures.<\/p>\n
\"The rights violations in Biak in 1998 have yet to be dealt
\nwith,\" Yoseph said.<\/p>\n
A mother of three children, Yosephina Pitja, said she hoped
\nthat the President would take the time to listen to the
\ngrievances of Papuan women.<\/p>\n
\"If he does not mind, he should listen to our experiences of
\nhow many Papuan women have been sexually molested,\" said the
\nvegetable seller from Abepura market.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman, who has just completed an official
\nvisit to troubled Ambon, is slated to visit Irian Jaya at the end
\nof this month.<\/p>\n
New name<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Rev. Herman Awom, deputy chairman of the
\nEvangelical Christian Church said he hoped President Abdurrahman
\nwould agree to renaming Irian Jaya West Papua.<\/p>\n
\"By 2000 we want to have a new official name. We hope that Gus
\nDur is the man to announce that,\" Awom said.<\/p>\n
He also said he wanted the President to clarify why he and
\nfour other Irianese had been banned since June 1999 from
\ntraveling abroad by the Directorate General of Immigration.<\/p>\n
The four are Willy Mandowen, a lecturer at the state
\nUniversity of Cendrawasih, Tom Beanal, an Amungme tribal leader,
\nBeny Giay, head of the research and development commission at the
\nChristian and Alliance Missionary and Octovianus Mote, a Kompas
\nreporter.<\/p>\n
The National Human Rights Commission has demanded that the
\ngovernment lift the ban, but as yet there has been no response
\nfrom the government.<\/p>\n
The Irianese have also demanded explanations about the 1996
\nMapnduma massacre, during which the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nheld an operation to release 24 hostages abducted by the
\nseparatist Free Papua Movement (OPM).<\/p>\n
Some people were killed in the operation, and a staff member
\nfrom the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has
\nalleged the illegal use of the organization's facilities in the
\noperation. (eba\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/irianese-hope-gus-dur-will-bring-solutions-1447893297",
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