Irianese protest over planned eviction

JAKARTA (JP): About 100 Irianese staged a peaceful demonstration at City Hall yesterday to protest a statement by Governor Sutiyoso that he would expel them from their Tanah Abang dormitory in Central Jakarta because of their repeated clashes with neighboring Betawi (native Jakartans).

One of the protesters, Ones Dom, criticized Sutiyoso's remarks which he said labeled Irianese living at the dormitory as hoodlums who had to be driven away.

"The dormitory has a deep historical meaning for us. It was a gift from former president Sukarno in 1964 after Indonesia successfully won its struggle over Irian Jaya in 1963," he said.

Ones said the complex was built in 1962 and was given to the Irianese people on Sept. 17, 1964 during an official ceremony led by then minister of agriculture Brig. Gen. Soetjipto.

Hundreds of Irianese have lived in the 8,200-square-meter dormitory complex ever since. At least 200 families currently live there.

He said he was shocked by reports in several local newspapers and private television news broadcasts that Sutiyoso would force the Irianese out of the dormitory in order to prevent new clashes with other local residents.

Another protester, Erni Warady, expressed concern over the media reports.

"The local residents have always portrayed us as bad people and troublemakers," she said.

"Nobody cares about how the Betawi people have insulted us all the time, how they spread propaganda against us by calling us dogs and throw stones at our complex from the other side of the wall," she added.

Erni said her son, Tholon, 15, was injured by several Betawi youths as he walked home after school a day prior to a major clash on May 4.

"He almost lost his arm because the bone was fractured in the attack. You know, it was their attack on Tholon which made us all angry and led to the clash.

"But who cares about that? Nobody. Nobody in the media asked us our version of the clash. They only covered what the Betawi and the officials told them."

Central Jakarta Mayor Andi Subur said yesterday that the Irianese, especially the youth, had often been involved in quarrels with their Betawi neighbors.

Some efforts have been made to solve the disputes, including the establishment of a joint night watch program between the two ethnic groups, but there have been no results thus far, he said.

Andi was speaking to reporters after a closed meeting between Sutiyoso and five representatives of the Irianese community.

"We plan to hold a peaceful discussion between the two ethnic groups to settle the feud," said Andi.

Andi said Sutiyoso had never planned to expel the Irianese from the dormitory complex.

"There is no such plan to relocate the Irianese. We never treat any ethnic group differently. The Irianese can stay in their dormitory," he said.

One of the five representatives, Nico, told reporters that Sutiyoso promised to take good care of the Irianese community and that he had never said anything about forcing them from the dormitory.

"The governor told us that all the newspaper reports were just made up by the reporters themselves. That it was not what he told them," said Nico.

"The governor said he would ask his staff to check on the publications," he added.

Some of the Irianese, however, reportedly saw and heard Sutiyoso's statement on a private television channel.

"We accept Sutiyoso's explanation and correction. But if there is proof that he really said that on television, then he should bear the responsibility," he said. (cst)