Irianese protest over planned eviction

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)