What's wrong in Irian Jaya?

What's wrong in Irian Jaya?

It has often been said that the steady economic growth we have been enjoying for the past 25 years does not necessarily mean an end to the host of problems this nation is facing as it develops. From the beginning it was realized that paying attention to only the physical aspects of development would fail to yield success.

It is the importance of the non-material aspects of development that come to mind as we observe the string of incidents that have taken place in Irian Jaya in the past few months. First there was the shooting incident and violation of human rights in Timika. Then came the abduction of two high school students by insurgents in Irian Jaya. Then more hostages were taken, including a number of foreign researchers, who have yet to be released.

Then suddenly an even more disconcerting situation erupted in the form of rioting in Tembagapura and Timika.

Considering this string of incidents, questions arise as to what is actually happening to our brothers and sisters in this easternmost province.

Naturally we hope an explanation from the authorities will be forthcoming as soon as possible as to whether provocative political activities are behind these incidents.

However, one thing in particular deserves our serious attention. This is the fact that the rapid physical development of Irian Jaya has so far apparently failed to touch on the immediate interests of the local population. In other words rapid development has been unable to improve the welfare and meet the human needs of the majority of the local population.

-- Suara Pembaruan, Jakarta