Govt cold shoulders Irian Jaya independence bid
Govt cold shoulders Irian Jaya independence bid
JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi confirmed on
Saturday the government's disapproval of demands for independence
from the country's easternmost province.
"The demand for independence raised by a group of Irianese
before President B.J. Habibie recently met with government
opposition," Freddy said upon arrival from Jakarta at Sentani
Airport in Jayapura.
He said Habibie asked the delegation to reconsider the demand
during the Feb. 26 dialog at Merdeka Palace.
"This means that the President does not agree with the idea to
establish an independent state in West Papua," he said.
A separatist campaign launched by the Free Papua Movement
(OPM) for several decades appears derived from discontent at
division of mining revenues in the mineral-rich province.
Freddy said the Irian Jaya Reconciliation Forum-sponsored
dialog failed to attain its goals because the delegation returned
home with nothing significant.
"Those Irianese representatives should have not raised the
demand for independence, but spoken about necessities to develop
the province instead," he said.
Despite the failure, Freddy, also a Navy commodore, said the
dialog should serve as a reminder for the government to pay more
attention to the Irianese people's aspirations.
He said the province needed huge funding for development of
quality local human resources.
"The program to groom native Irianese who will take over
public administrative jobs here has not worked. The failure has
caused the province to lag behind its counterparts," Freddy said.
The governor also warned Irianese people against possible
provocation in the wake of continuing tension in neighboring
Maluku province.
"The unabated clashes in Ambon, Maluku, have turned into
ethnic and religious conflicts. Therefore, people in Irian Jaya
should stay on alert for a possible spillover of unrest," he
said.
Although security and public order in Irian Jaya are under
control, Freddy called on all people to remain vigilant of
provocateurs who might infiltrate the province.
He denied reports on expulsion of migrants from the province,
stating that Irian belonged to the nation and all Indonesians
were entitled to reside there.
He said the autonomy offered by the government seemed most
suitable for Irian Jaya's progress.
"A wide-ranging autonomy will allow us to control our own
region. Therefore, it is better for Irian Jaya people to accept
the offer rather than to demand for an unrealistic thing."
He said the government earmarked Rp 3 trillion from the state
budget to boost development in the province.
"Without sufficient funds, it is impossible for Irian Jaya to
catch up with the other provinces," he said. (rms)