Papuan leaders heartened by President's actions<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Papuan leaders welcome President
\nAbdurrahman Wahid's positive response to the people's rising
\ndemand for independence.<\/p>\n
Even though the President has offered no concrete steps other
\nthan to hold more dialogs to settle the problems in Irian Jaya,
\nchairman of the Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) Rev. Herman
\nSaud said on Sunday the President's response was a very wise one.<\/p>\n
Saud told The Jakarta Post President Abdurrahman could not
\ndecide if Papua, the new name for Irian Jaya as stated by the
\nPresident, should become an independent state or not.<\/p>\n
When visiting the easternmost province at the end of last
\nyear, the President told Papuan officials and tribal leaders that
\nonly the People's Consultative Assembly had authority over that
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
Saud also praised the President's guarantee for more
\ndiscussions and freedom of expression. \"Only by genuine dialogs
\ncan a peaceful and wise solution be found to the province's
\nproblems,\" Saud said.<\/p>\n
The President's promises to promote justice, develop human
\nresources and enhance human rights in Papua were also worthy of
\npraise, he said. \"I call on all parties to accept the President's
\ngood response, despite the fact that it does not satisfy
\neveryone.\"<\/p>\n
Don A. Flassy, the secretary of the Irian Jaya regional
\ndevelopment planning board (Bappeda), shared his opinion, saying
\nthe President had hinted at a good response to the people's
\naspirations.<\/p>\n
The central government should then communicate the President's
\ngesture to the (Irianese) people, so that they could perceive
\nwhat the President really wanted, he added.<\/p>\n
\"The people must be involved in dialogs with the government.
\nIn this way they can grasp and understand the government's good
\nwill very clearly,\" Flassy said.<\/p>\n
A student at the state University of Cendrawasih, Diaz
\nGwijangge, said security approaches would not settle the problems
\nin Papua. \"Only by dialogs, such as those offered and emphasized
\nby the President, can the problems be settled without bloodshed,\"
\nDiaz said.<\/p>\n
In his year-end visit the President also announced that Papua
\nwas the new name for Irian Jaya. Governor Freddy Numbery said,
\nhowever, that further discussion was needed over the new name.<\/p>\n
\"All parties should sit together and discuss whether the
\nprovince will be called Papua province or West Papua province.
\nOur neighbors also have the word Papua in their country (Papua
\nNew Guinea),\" Freddy said.<\/p>\n
\"Demands for independence and a change in the province's name
\nmust be discussed first,\" he reiterated. (eba)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuan-leaders-heartened-by-presidents-actions-1447893297",
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