Club says research in Irian must continue
JAKARTA (JP): The Biological Science Club of Indonesia said yesterday research programs must continue in Irian Jaya in spite of a hostage-taking tragedy in which the club lost this month two of its members.
In a statement, however, the club stated it has temporarily ceased all research programs in Irian Jaya in compliance with a government ban announced after the end, on May 16, of the four- month hostage drama.
"We hope that researchers will not be deterred or discouraged from conducting work in Irian Jaya, or any other part of Indonesia for that matter, because of this incident," according to a statement read at a media briefing to announce the preliminary results of the Lorentz 1995 Expedition.
The briefing, given by the club's chairman, Yuda Novendri Lamand, also presented Jualita Tanasale, one of the club's members who survived the four-month hostage ordeal.
Adinda Saraswati, another survivor who is still in hospital, said in a taped statement that the tragic death of her two colleagues saddened her. "(But) I hope this incident does not dampen the spirits of other researchers to conduct work in the area (Irian Jaya)."
"The Lorentz Expedition was launched with the intention of helping the community there," she said.
Four graduates of the Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, England, joined in the expedition and went through the same ordeal, as did two Dutch citizens.
The five-week expedition into the Lorentz Nature Reserve made numerous findings. They include: 121 types of birds, six kinds of mammals, six kinds of reptiles, six kinds of insects, 26 kinds of amphibious species, two kinds of fish, 163 flora specimens, and 50 kinds of plants for ethnobiology studies.
It also found plant species that have potential uses for humans: 30 for foodstuff, two for clothing, eight for planks, 25 for medicines, 15 for fire food, six for handicraft, 20 for tools and ornaments, and 10 for miscellaneous uses such as soap, musical instruments, cigarettes and torches.
The Lorentz natural reserve spans a 2.15-million hectare area in central Irian Jaya. Earlier researches have already determined that the area contains about 81 percent of mammals and 65 percent of birds found in Irian Jaya.
Given the characteristics and uniqueness of the flora and fauna found, and the diversity of cultures and ethnicities, Lorentz is "one of the world's major natural assets," the club said.
The expedition was launched to obtain basic information about flora and fauna in the area and make preliminary studies about conservation as well as the development of the reserve.
It was also intended to learn about the potential uses of flora and fauna for the Ndunga tribes, who inhabit the area, by combining modern scientific knowledge and the tribe's traditional knowledge. (16/emb)