Tribesmen can't vote

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Thousands of members of some isolated tribes in the hinterland of Baliem Valley, Jayawijaya regency, may not be able to vote in the 1997 general elections due to transportation difficulties.

Antara quoted Jayawijaya Regent JB Wenas as saying on Wednesday that there are tens of thousands of nomadic tribesmen moving from one place to another across 12 subdistricts. The areas are difficult to reach by land transportation.

"They may not be able to vote," Wenas said.

He added, however, that there are also a number of tribesmen who were already "discovered" and resettled. They will be able to vote.

Irian Jaya's 421,981 square kilometers is populated by only two million people at a density of four people per square kilometer. One fourth of the population lives in Jayawijaya.(swe)