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)