Protect Papuan from Cholera

The story about cholera epidemic in West Papua was used by separatist group by telling the world about the natural demographic genocide by Indonesia government. In reality, the health problem is a national problem and it happens in almost every remote area in Indonesia. Indonesian government should pay more serius attention to what happen to its people, including in West Papua.

In West Papua’s cholera epidemic, usually it spread very fast in a swamp area or during rainy season. It getting worse because the huts are full of smoke, pigs walk freely around the place, no toilets are available. Clean water comes from a dubious steam. School and health post are left behind without staff. There are gardens everywhere, but the crop gets flooded during the rainy season. The local and central government respond is also very slow due to its incapability to give quick respond to disaster and epidemic case.

A very objective and interesting story from dokter van de wereled can be a good source for understanding the reality in West Papua. The story is about cholera eppidemic in the highland of regions of paniai.

IGSARPRI

Another positive effort by IGSARPRI for the future of Papuan people.

09/07/08 03:42
IGSARPRI helping Papuans repatriate from PNG
Jayapura, Papua,(ANTARA News) – The Independent Group Supporting the Autonomous Region of Papua in the Republic of Indonesia (IGSARPRI) is making continuous efforts for the repatriation of Papuans living in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to their homeland in Papua or West Papua provinces, a spokesman said.

The chairman of the group`s board of founders, Franzalbert Yoku, made the statement to ANTARA here on Saturday after accompanying nine Papuans Friday on their way from Port Moresby, the PNG`s capital, to Jayapura, Papua`s provincial capital and later to Jakarta, Bandung and Yogyakarta to pursue studies.

“The foundation has since 2006 been helping the repatriation of Papuans who have been living in PNG. It also cooperates with the ministry of education to give scholarships to Papuans who were born in the PNG to continue their studies in Java before working in Papua,” he said.

He said the group`s struggle was based on Law Number 21 on regional autonomy which aims to make Papuans masters in their homeland within the fold of the Unitary State of Indonesia.

The effort was fully supported by the central government, including the foreign ministry and other ministries concerned.

Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu met with officials of the Regional Taskforce on Tuesday to discuss preparations for the implementation of a plan to repatriate 192 families or 708 people late this year or early next year, he said.(*)