Settlers return home

Settlers return home

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: More than 260 settlers have abandoned
their government-funded transmigration camps in Bonggo, Jayapura
regency, because of food shortages, an official said on Monday.

Jan Pali, the head of the Transmigration Minister Office in
Jayapura, said those who left were mostly transmigrants at the
resettlement units VII and VIII who came from East Nusa Tenggara,
West Java and Jakarta.

Settlers said that because of the absence of drainage systems,
their homes were continually inundated by water and they could
not plant anything on their land.

Sukiman, one of the settlers, said they were heading towards
Jayapura. "We shall not return," he said.

"We are victims of bad government policy. The government must
send us home or transfer us to better locations."

The settlers have sold their property, including cattle, which
were given to them by the government.

Police arrested four of the settlers when they were caught
trying to sell property that belonged to the state. (eba)