Indigenous Irianese youths demand more jobs
Indigenous Irianese youths demand more jobs
JAKARTA (JP): Indigenous Irianese youths pressed their demand
yesterday for more jobs in both the government and private
sectors as a way to ease social tension in the esternmost
province.
They said the increasing cases of rioting in Irian Jaya can be
traced to the fact that key positions in Irian Jaya are held by
people from other provinces, notably Java and Sumatra.
"Giving us more jobs is a solution to ease the tension that
has led to rioting," Hengky H. Jokhu, secretary to the Jakarta-
based Communication Forum for Irian Young Generation, said.
About 15 activists of the forum met with journalists at the
office of the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute to
air their views on the latest riot in Nabire.
Nabire, the capital of Paniai regency, was rocked last week by
two days of riot involving 3,000 job seekers. The incident left
at least three soldiers injured, and around 100 office buildings,
shops, homes and a number of vehicles destroyed.
The workers began rioting after they were fooled by rumors
that 95 percent of the 127 job openings available for Paniai
residents had already been filled.
Other rumors alleged that the Paniai government had openings
for 2,000 new employees. But deputy governor of Irian Jaya Basyir
Bachtiar said that the 2,000 openings were for the whole
province, not just the Paniai district.
The misinformed crowd, apparently could not accept the
explanation. The angry mob vandalized the regency government
office and set fire to the legislative council buildings, the
town's prison and a market.
Hengky said the numerous riots in the province were fueled by
social disparity more than by the persistent abuse of human
rights.
"There are only three Irianese among the 500 members of the
House of Representatives, one governor and several regents, while
there are a lot of Javanese or Sumatrans who occupy influential
positions in Irian," he said.
Andy D. Manoby, chairman of the communication forum, pointed
out the regents of the so called "golden triangle" region --
Timika, Paniai and Wamena regencies -- are non-indigenous
Irianese.
"It will be great if local administration offices are chaired
by local people, who have a better understanding of local
problems," he said.
The Nabire riot was the fourth to have rocked Irian Jaya this
year. In March, nine people were killed in separate violent
street protests in Timika, Tembagapura and Abepura. (imn/16)