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)