Irianese demand national dialog with Habibie

Irianese demand national dialog with Habibie

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The Irianese have demanded that
President B.J. Habibie keep his promise to hold a "national
dialog" with them. Failure to do so would be an insult to the
people of the province and might drive them to take "arbitrary
actions", local leaders said.

Bram Kuruwib, the deputy speaker of the provincial legislative
council, said Irianese were becoming impatient as the government
had earlier promised the dialog would be held soon after the
Muslim Idul Fitri holiday in January.

Bram pointed out the Irianese people should be given a chance
to directly convey their aspirations and express their grievances
over the oppression they experienced under the New Order regime.

Because of empty promises by officials, "people will be
disappointed and lose their confidence in the government, and
they may act arbitrarily," Kuruwib said as quoted by the
Cendrawasih Pos daily in its Friday edition.

During a visit to Jayapura in December, Minister/State
Secretary Akbar Tandjung, speaking on behalf of Habibie, assured
the provincial leaders that the President would visit the
province to listen to people's complaints and aspirations.

Akbar, also Golkar chairman, said the people would be free to
raise any proposals, including demands for greater autonomy.

The chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), A.A.
Baramuli, however, said last month the planned meeting would be
postponed until the general election in June. He did not give any
reason.

Some students here have threatened to demonstrate if Habibie
failed to keep his word.

The rector of state-run Cendrawasih University, Martinus
Werimon, warned that students may act out of anger over the
unkept promise.

Senior anthropologist Benny Giyai said a dialog would give
Habibie a better understanding of the prolonged unrest in the
province and the growing demand for independence.

Meanwhile, Sorong Catholic Bishop F.X. Hadisumarta said on
Friday the planned dialog would be very helpful for both the
government and the local people. (34/prb)