Problems of forestry and land use in the Asia-Pacific region: the Irian Jaya experience

Abstract

Relations between Church and State in the swamp forests of Asmat, Southern Irian Jaya, have developed to the worst. Some enquerres dis- tributed by Catholic priests to the Asmat parishioners to inquire about the people's feelings about the timber companies operating in their customary lands have been confiscated by local government authorities. Military intelligence officers in Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya, also have shown interest in confiscating the rest of those 'subversive pamphlets' - so these opinion poll enquerres have been censured by annoyed government officials. In the meantime, a member of the Diocese Human Rights Committee, Yufensius Biakai, was beaten up by military and policemen in Sauwa-Erma, Asmat, for some still unknown reasons. However, he, being a member of the committee that issued the enquerres, the incident brought the timber conflict to the forefront again.