Irianese demand UN shares burden for their plight
JAKARTA (JP): An Iran Jaya youth group demanded that the United Nations share "moral responsibility" for what they perceive as oppression of indigenous Irianese people.
The UN was sponsor of the 1962 New York Agreement on the transfer of administration over West New Guinea (West Irian), between Indonesia and the Netherlands.
Around 25 activists of the Communication Forum for Irianese Youths stage a demonstration at the UN office and conveyed their message to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
They insisted that the UN should share responsibility for what they see as "neglect and discrimination" against Irianese because the world body made the territory's integration with Indonesia possible.
The youths demand that the UN form a fact-finding team to investigate alleged rights abuses in Irian Jaya, help protect Irianese human rights, make Indonesia loosen security approach and put the brake on migration.
While four delegates met with a UN public relations officer, the others displayed banners outside, attracting bystanders on Jl. M.H. Thamrin. The demonstrators followed police order to stop demonstration.
"The government's political will in Irian Jaya is not clear," a banner read. "How far has the New York Agreement been implemented?" another screamed.
Forum secretary Hengky H. Jokhu said they brought a "statement of concern" for Annan, who they said was a witness of the 1962 New York Agreement as a young UN staff member.
Under the Agreement, the Netherlands was to transfer authority over the area to a UN Temporary Executive Authority (UNTEA), which would in turn transfer administration to Indonesia. The transfer officially took place in May 1963.
"As the United Nations was active in the integration of West Irian into Indonesia, now we demand its responsibility," Hengky said.
"Until now people of Irian Jaya feel they are a neglected minority within the Republic," he said.
In their letter to Annan, the forum detailed alleged abuse of Irianese rights in education, politics and economy. The activists claimed that key positions in the bureaucracy mostly go to migrants.
Migrants, including participants of the state-sponsored transmigration program, dominate Irian Jaya's economy and threatens indigenous culture.
"The socio-economic development policy leads Irianese to poverty," the youths said in the petition, a copies of which were made available to the mass media.
They pointed out that the allocation of Jakarta's aid for impoverished villages was unclear and so was assistance from PT Freeport Indonesia that amounts to one percent of the company's net profit.
They claimed that most Irianese were impoverished, illiterate, without hope and live in fear.
Hengky said he planned to bring the matter directly to UN headquarters if the Jakarta office fails to respond.
"We already voiced our concern to the House of Representatives last year and other parties, but nothing has happened," Hengky said.
The Forum also referred to Annan's speech when he was installed as Secretary General in December, in which he said the UN would strive to improve respect for basic rights of minorities around the world. (anr)