Injustice 'is key problem' in Irian

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)