Injustice 'is key problem' in Irian
JAKARTA (JP): The key issues in Irian Jaya, which has recently been hit by a wave of bloody protests, are not independence or greater autonomy but persistent injustices and the rampant violation of the local population's basic human rights, an influential church leader has said.
Mgr. Leo Laba Ladjar, the Catholic Bishop of Jayapura, said that the majority of Irian Jaya's people were distressed about human rights violations and the government's unfair treatment of the province.
He argued it was dissent over these issues which had eventually spilled over into political issues such as independence.
"Withdrawing military personnel, lifting the status of military operation zone from the province, and ensuring the Irianese people are treated humanely are absolutely essential if the government really is committed to creating a peaceful climate in the province," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone yesterday.
At least one person was shot dead, 40 injured and 400 others arrested when a series of student-led demonstrations in the Irian Jaya towns of Jayapura, Sorong and Biak turned into bloody riots last month.
The demonstrators, albeit small in number, raised the flag of West Papua, which symbolizes an independent Irian Jaya, and demanded freedom from Indonesia.
Leo said the hidden truth of the province was that life for many people was extremely hard.
He said most people, especially those living in remote areas like Timika, lived in fear of the military, who insist on regulating their daily activities.
Leo cited examples where villagers were obliged to report to security posts on the way to their fields and had to possess a letter of permission from their village chief in order to visit other villages.
"That means they are being treated as aliens in their own home," he charged.
Leo maintained that many Irianese were demanding independence or special autonomy not because of their political aspirations but out of a long suppressed dissatisfaction with the government.
"The situation would be different if the authorities treated the local people fairly and allowed them to participate in the provincial development program," he said.
He pointed to the fact that foreign companies with central government help have been exploiting Irian Jaya's natural resources to huge gain while the welfare of the local population had shown no substantial improvement.
According to Leo, the Catholic Church could continue to play an important role as a bridge between the authorities and the Irianese people in efforts to solve the province's problems and promote respect for human rights.
Leo noted that the Forum for Reconciliation in Irian Jaya, of which he is a member, would continue to engage all sides in the conflict in its efforts to bring peace to the province and promote social justice for all.
The forum recently held a dialog on human rights and the withdrawal of troops from the province with the chief of the regional military command, Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, and a fact- finding team from the House of Representatives led by House Deputy Speaker Abdul Gafur.
"During the meeting Pak Amir agreed to gradually reduce the military presence here and bring in some soldiers with agricultural skills to help local people with their farming,' he said.
He corrected an Aug. 3 report in the Post which said that religious figures in Irian Jaya supported the idea of independence.
Leo said that during the dialog several students and tribal chiefs in the forum demanded an independent Irian Jaya, but added that all religious figures present that day were against the idea. (rms)