Beware: Foreign NGOs

Beware: Foreign NGOs
in Papua

From Koran Tempo

The Papuan issue is Indonesia's domestic affair and the nation
will solve it on its own. Foreign non-governmental organizations
only create confusion instead of helping local people, and the
government should watch out for their activities in the country.

An analysis by the International Crisis Group (ICG) that I
read in mid-April 2003 contains propaganda to discredit Indonesia
in the world scene, particularly regarding the policy on Papua's
expansion. Indirectly, ICG is assisting groups opposed to the
government's policy, while it understands little about the
history of Papua.

The ICG article has thus provoked Papuans into conflict, while
sowing the seeds of enmity between indigenous people and
resettlers. The government should act wisely and strictly against
such provocation, if necessary by banning the group from
operating in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the government needs to implement the policy
promptly and meaningfully, so that ordinary people in Papua can
soon enjoy the benefit of this program.

ACHMAD ZAKY JUNEIDI
Bogor, West Java