East Indonesia no dumping site

East Indonesia no dumping site

JAKARTA (JP): A senior official of the Ministry of Home
Affairs has categorically denied suggestions that official
postings to eastern Indonesia are a punishment.

"Such an opinion is totally groundless," Rapiuddin Hamarung,
the chief of the ministry's Research and Development Agency, was
quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

Rapiuddin, speaking in Ambon, Maluku, underlined that civil
servants have taken an oath of office to be prepared to be
assigned in any part of the archipelago.

Many officials posted in eastern provinces considered their
assignments useful in enhancing their careers, he said. Many have
been successful after being reassigned to the central
administration, he added.

"Some even see their posting in the east as a grooming place
that projects them to central administration jobs," he assured.

Rapiuddin said the people fanning the rumor that Eastern
Indonesia is a dumping ground could not adjust to their new
environment.

The eastern provinces, like Maluku and Irian Jaya, are
considerably underdeveloped when compared to the western parts of
the country. The government is currently pouring resources and
attention into the economic development of the eastern provinces.
(emb)