Irian woos transmigrants

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The provincial government has allotted 4,777 hectares of land for those who want to resettle there through their own initiative.

The land is available in several regencies, including Jayapura, Fak-Fak, Paniai, Manokwari, Sorong and Merauke, said head of the provincial office of transmigration Oman.

Oman said most of transmigrants had chosen Jayapura and Merauke, Antara reported yesterday.

He said the transmigrants came from Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, the country's most populous provinces which have relocated thousands of people to sparsely-inhabited islands.

Oman said people from other provinces interested in taking part in the self initiated transmigration programs would obtain a plot of farmland and a house.(pan)