Irianese hope Gus Dur will bring solutions

Irianese hope Gus Dur will bring solutions

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Irianese say they are ready for
President Abdurrahman Wahid's year-end visit and are hopeful that
the visit will resolve widespread alleged human rights abuse
cases in the easternmost province.

The Irianese, many of whom opt to call themselves Papuans,
said that the President's visit would be meaningful if it could
improve the relationship between the Papuans and the government
of Indonesia.

John Rumbiak, a consultant for the Institute of Human Rights
Studies and Advocacy said Papuans were waiting for the
President's response to the alleged rights abuses, which are said
to have taken place for more than 30 years.

He said Gus Dur, as the President is popularly called, may
have some awareness about the alleged rights violations in Irian
Jaya.

"However, since Gus Dur has yet to directly hear from the
victims of the violations, a face-to-face dialog with the
Papuans, especially the victims of the rights abuses, is
imperative," John said.

Demands for independence have been raised across the province
due to alleged widespread unresolved rights violations in the
past and unfair revenue sharing from mining exploitation
ventures.

Farmer Nas Apasaray told The Jakarta Post it was expected that
the President would bring good news to the Irianese.

"We just hope that he has perceived the root of the problems.
I do believe that he will be able to offer a democratic and
peaceful solution to settle the case," Apasaray said.

He added that no one had any intention of barring the
President from visiting Irian Jaya. "Welcome to West Papua. We
Papuans are peaceful people."

Another welcoming remark was made by Yoseph Rumaseb, a youth
from Biak, who said that the President was expected to respond
positively to the Papuans' complaints about alleged rampant
rights abuses in the province, home to one of the world's largest
gold and cooper mining ventures.

"The rights violations in Biak in 1998 have yet to be dealt
with," Yoseph said.

A mother of three children, Yosephina Pitja, said she hoped
that the President would take the time to listen to the
grievances of Papuan women.

"If he does not mind, he should listen to our experiences of
how many Papuan women have been sexually molested," said the
vegetable seller from Abepura market.

President Abdurrahman, who has just completed an official
visit to troubled Ambon, is slated to visit Irian Jaya at the end
of this month.

New name

Meanwhile, Rev. Herman Awom, deputy chairman of the
Evangelical Christian Church said he hoped President Abdurrahman
would agree to renaming Irian Jaya West Papua.

"By 2000 we want to have a new official name. We hope that Gus
Dur is the man to announce that," Awom said.

He also said he wanted the President to clarify why he and
four other Irianese had been banned since June 1999 from
traveling abroad by the Directorate General of Immigration.

The four are Willy Mandowen, a lecturer at the state
University of Cendrawasih, Tom Beanal, an Amungme tribal leader,
Beny Giay, head of the research and development commission at the
Christian and Alliance Missionary and Octovianus Mote, a Kompas
reporter.

The National Human Rights Commission has demanded that the
government lift the ban, but as yet there has been no response
from the government.

The Irianese have also demanded explanations about the 1996
Mapnduma massacre, during which the Indonesian Military (TNI)
held an operation to release 24 hostages abducted by the
separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM).

Some people were killed in the operation, and a staff member
from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has
alleged the illegal use of the organization's facilities in the
operation. (eba/sur)