Rights body urges review of Irian policies

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has urged the government to review all policies that have led to the disadvantage of the people of Irian Jaya.

In an Aug. 25 statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Friday, the rights body cited the transmigration program, the family planning program, forest concessions, mining rights issues, the recruitment of civil servants, military and police members as problematic for Irianese people.

"All policies that harm the people of Irian should be reviewed," the rights body said in a statement signed by chairman Marzuki Darusman and commission member Clementino dos Reis Amaral.

The commission said the Irianese have for years suffered from injustice and discrimination because of those government policies. It explained that most positions of importance in the government offices are occupied by non-natives, while Irianese routinely face difficulties if they wish to enter the military and the police force.

The commission dispatched a team to investigate complaints of rights abuses in Irian Jaya between Aug. 1 and Aug. 6. In Biak, Sorong and Jayapura, the team met with government and military representatives, as well as church and tribal leaders, students and activists of non-governmental organizations.

Most of the people interviewed by the commission "complained about human rights violations committed by security personnel", the statement said.

The wide economic gap and discrimination have led to the mounting expressions of dissatisfaction, including the public hoisting of the separatist West Papua flag, the commission said.

In several recent cases, demonstrations were handled with force resulting in the deaths of a number of protesters.

"Peaceful demonstrations should not be handled with shooting, arbitrary arrests and other forms of violence," the commission said. "Because such violence does not only cause physical wounds, but also psychological trauma and it would eventually lead to increased separatism."

Rights activists and church leaders recently revealed the results of their three-year investigation into the military operation to free a group of people taken hostage by separatist rebels. Foreign mercenaries were allegedly involved in the operation, which was followed by a military crackdown marked by gross violations of human rights.

The investigators revealed cases of not only arbitrary killing and arrests but also atrocious sexual attacks of Irianese women and girls.

Separately, in Manokwari, the chief of the Trikora Military Command, Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring, said the military personnel in the province are no longer tasked with hunting down "members of security disturbance groups" but are there to help the residents improve their welfare.

He said dialogs have been held with separatist leaders. (34/swe)