On Irian Jaya issue

The Page 2 article titled Churches back calls for Irian Jaya Independence published on Aug. 3 clearly shows that churches support the movement for Irian Jaya's independence. To clarify the matter, I feel the need to convey the following:

Recently there has been political turbulence in Irian Jaya, just like in some other parts of our country. Reform is substantiated in various ways. As far as the status of the relationship of a region with the central government is concerned, some have expressed their desire for the broadest autonomy possible. Others wish to see the establishment of a federation, while still others aspire to have independence. This last-mentioned aspiration was manifested in demonstrations organized in Jayapura, Biak and Sorong in early July.

As the government and security apparatuses considered these demonstrations attempts to wrest power, they resorted to violence when dealing with these demonstrations with the result that some fell victim to this violent handling. The manner adopted in handling these demonstrations failed to bring calm but instead ignited the fury of the Irianese, for quite some time enduring quietly all kinds of pain inflicted upon them by the government and security apparatuses, who, these Irianese feel, have treated them unfairly and cruelly.

What these people wish is that their aspirations may be peacefully channeled and discussed. Unfortunately, the door, leading either to the government or to the House of Representatives, is simply closed. These aspirations will not disappear by themselves and will not be dampened simply by suppressing them. As a result, various social groups have taken the initiative to find the right means to channel these aspirations. Hence the establishment of the Forum for the Reconciliation of the Irian Jaya Community (Foreri). This forum brings together leaders of three churches, community elders as well as women and university student leaders.

This forum, as it name suggests, seeks to unite various parties in an open and peaceful manner to discuss various aspirations evolving in the community. It has been clearly stated that Foreri is independent in nature in the sense that it does not take sides with any particular aspiration. The objective the forum is pursuing is: To monitor and accommodate the pure conscience of the Irian Jaya community and channel it to the regional administration, the central government and other relevant parties. In this way, it is expected that these aspirations will be peacefully discussed and that violence which may lead to useless bloodshed may be averted.

It is expected that this explanation may prevent any likelihood of misunderstanding that the churches support one particular aspiration, namely the desire to form a state separate from the Republic of Indonesia.

LEO L. LADJAR

Jayapura Bishop