Irianese demand UN shares burden for their plight

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)