Police told to stop tribal war in Irian

JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman has appealed to his officers stationed in Irian Jaya to propel the local tribes away from attacking one another.

Banurusman said officers in Irian Jaya have an additional duty, that is involving the local people as much as possible in development activities so that they won't have time to indulge in customary tribal warfares.

"For the present era this part of their culture is no longer appropriate. It is also divisive," he said during a meeting with police officers in Wamena in the Irian Jaya hinterland, Antara reported yesterday.

Indonesia's easternmost province is inhabited by hundreds of tribes, many of them still living a stone age existence, including the habit of initiating wars between two tribes.

Banurusman said his office has launched a new program called mass-guidance pioneers in Irian Jaya, where the local police take the initiative of bringing the people in to join various development efforts in their regions. This approach will also enhance relations between the police and the local people, he added.

"This way, the people will feel secure and not fear being around the officers," Banurusman said.

He also called on the officers to pay close attention to the safety of tourists because the Jayawijaya regency is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Irian Jaya. (emb)