Rights body urges review of Irian policies
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)