Mama Yosefa to miss Yap Thiam awards ceremony

JAKARTA (JP): One of the recipients of this year's Yap Thiam Hien human rights award, Mama Yosefa Alomang, announced she would not attend Friday's awards ceremony to protest the government's lack of attention to troubles in Irian Jaya.

The executive director of the Center for Human Rights Studies (Yapusham), Todung Mulya Lubis, said the Irian Jaya tribal rights activist sent a letter accepting the award, but stated she would not travel to Jakarta until President Abdurrahman Wahid visited Irian Jaya.

The seven-page letter was directed to Abdurrahman, popularly known as Gus Dur, who is scheduled to attend the ceremony.

"In her letter, Mama Yosefa called on Gus Dur to cut down on his overseas trips and pay more attention to the country's internal matters. She also wanted Gus Dur to see for himself the aspirations for independence (in Irian Jaya)," Todung said.

However, the authenticity of the letter is being questioned because Mama Yosefa is known to be illiterate.

Mama Yosefa and Sarah Lary Mboeik, an activist from East Nusa Tenggara, were selected by Yapusham as this year's recipients of the rights award.

The award, named after a prominent Indonesian human rights activist and lawyer, was first presented in 1992.

Previous recipients include rights activists Sandyawan Sumardi and H.J.C. Princen, slain labor activist Marsinah, lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi and rights activist Munir of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence.

Yapusham member Agustina Manuputty also raised concerns the humanitarian award could be exploited by people seeking to further their personal political agendas.

"Mama Yosefa is illiterate. How can she write a letter which contains political jargon.

"We're afraid she will be used by certain political groups during her visit to Jakarta," Agustina said.

Mama Yosefa has been linked to the separatist movement in Irian Jaya, Agustina added.

She also said she had been contacted by members of the President's security team checking the backgrounds of the award recipients.

"I can understand the need for presidential protocol, but in anticipation of a third party taking advantage of her visit maybe it's better if Mama Yosefa misses the ceremony," she told The Jakarta Post.

Neither Mama Yosefa or her associates in the Timika regency of Irian Jaya could be reached for comment on Thursday afternoon. (emf)