RI to host international seminar on transmigration<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host an international seminar on
\nmigration next month, inviting 94 participants from 13 countries
\nto share their experiences in transmigration programs.<\/p>\n
Kulup Bono, spokesman of the Ministry of Transmigration, said
\nyesterday that the three-day seminar, to be opened by President
\nSoeharto on Nov. 27, will discuss ways to promote development
\nthrough population distribution.<\/p>\n
The gathering is also be expected to come up with ideas to
\nhelp Indonesia and the other participants fight the negative
\nimage of transmigration programs.<\/p>\n
"The transmigration program has been in existence for almost
\n50 years ... It has been accused of, among other things, causing
\nenvironmental destruction (and) of being a means of enlarging
\nterritory," Bono said. "The seminar will respond to those
\naccusations."<\/p>\n
The participants -- officials, academics and non-governmental
\norganizations -- will be from Indonesia as well as from Brazil,
\nMalaysia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar,
\nLaos, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, Namibia, Ethiopia and
\nBangladesh.<\/p>\n
Participating as observers will be representatives from Brunei
\nDarussalam, Japan, India, China, the Netherlands, Germany and
\nAustralia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been foremost in organizing transmigration
\nprograms to move people from the densely-populated islands of
\nJava, Bali and Madura to the less-populated outer islands of the
\narchipelago.<\/p>\n
Some 50,000 families are relocated each year under the
\nprogram.<\/p>\n
Officials have said that the transmigration program is aimed,
\nnot only at alleviating demographic pressures in Java, Bali and
\nMadura, but also at promoting the development of the areas to
\nwhich the settlers are moved.<\/p>\n
Java accounts for about seven percent of the land surface of
\nIndonesia but is home to more than 60 percent of Indonesia's 194
\nmillion people. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-to-host-international-seminar-on-transmigration-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}