Tribesmen can't vote

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)