Irianese people give
\nMegawati warm welcome<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri, the
\nchairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party, received a
\ntraditional warm welcome as the people pleaded for assistance to
\nimprove their lot.<\/p>\n
Megawati, the daughter of former president Sukarno, was met by
\nan enthusiastic throng of supporters when she arrived in
\nIndonesia's eastern-most province last week as she launched
\nanother campaign to drum up support for the party.<\/p>\n
She was received in traditional Irian Jaya fashion and toured
\naround the city in an open car.<\/p>\n
A crowd of thousands of people, including students, drivers
\nand civil servants, trying to get a close look at her, lined the
\nstreets. Many also thronged the airport.<\/p>\n
She also toured the towns of Biak, Serui, Merauke and Wamena,
\nwhere she received equally warm welcomes.<\/p>\n
Along with the welcome, Megawati had to deal with a number of
\ncriticisms and sharp questions during the ensuing dialogs with
\nlocal leaders.<\/p>\n
\"We have been independent and joined Indonesia 30 years ago.
\nBut most villages remain underdeveloped, so we want to ask
\nexplicitly about PDI's plan to help alleviate our poverty,\" Athan
\nTenau, a director of a Catholic foundation said.<\/p>\n
Megawati, who was elected by popular vote at an unprecedented
\nparty congress in December last year, diplomatically said
\n\"Adhering to our national unity principles, what the Irianese
\nfeel, the Acehnese and Jakarta people must also feel,\" she said.
\n\"If you suffer, those who live in Aceh and Jakarta will feel the
\nsuffering.\"<\/p>\n
Philliphus Degey, a local intellectual, attacked the
\nauthorities' overt concern with security, which he said has
\nreached the point of terrorizing the local people.<\/p>\n
\"Even though we have lived free from colonialism, we are still
\noverpowered by this fear we can't explain,\" Degey said, adding
\nthat some Irianese feel they are being treated badly in many
\ncases.<\/p>\n
Legislator and senior party executive, Sabam Sirait, who
\naccompanied Megawati, said the government and the Armed Forces
\nare seriously endeavoring to improve their condition.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully the practice of discrimination will soon end,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Diocese of Jayapura's Monsignor Munninghoff O.F.M.
\nsaid he expected the PDI to help bring about greater democracy in
\nIrian Jaya. (lkd\/prs)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/irianese-people-give-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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