Irianese urged to preserve forests

Irianese urged to preserve forests

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno urges young people
in Irian Jaya to help preserve the province's forestry resources.

"A Well-trained young generation is needed for forest
preservation in Irian Jaya since the province is functioning as
one of the earth's lungs," Try said in Jayapura, capital of Irian
Jaya, on Saturday.

He was in Irian Jaya to dedicate the laboratory of the
Jayapura Technical Academy, which was developed through a grant
from President Soeharto.

The dedication is part of Try's visit to the province. On
Friday night, he opened the 12th General Assembly of the
Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI) at the Mandala Stadium
in Jayapura.

Try said a well-trained work force is needed to preserve the
wealth of natural resources which endow Irian Jaya.

The technical academy is expected to groom and produce skilled
workers, the lack of which has forced companies operating in
Irian Jaya to bring in workers from other provinces, particularly
Java.

"Please make full use of the presidential aid facility and
maintain the equipment responsibly," Try pleaded as quoted by the
Antara news agency.

The vice president said the young people in Irian Jaya and
other eastern Indonesian provinces have equal access and
opportunity to become the nation's future leaders, but stressed
that they have to compete with their peers from other regions.

The current Sixth Five Year Plan (Pelita VI) is putting great
emphasis on human resources development, which include the
establishment of new schools and universities, he said.

This means that young Irianese will no longer have to travel
to other provinces to study.

He said the transmigration program -- under which people from
over-crowded areas in Java are resettled to the lesser populated
regions such as Irian Jaya -- is also intended to compensate for
the lack of human resources in the recipient provinces. (imn)