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)