6-9 December 1995
Jayapura, Irian Jaya
By Dianne van Oosterhout
The seminar was organized by LIPI, PemDa Tk I Irian Jaya, and UNCEN, and took
place at the University of Cendrawasih, Jayapura. It was attended by some hundred
participants, mostly from Indonesia, and from different fields of specialization, which was
exactly what had been envisaged by the organizers. Most speakers were non-Irianese,
with LIPI and the provincial government conspicuously represented. Joining Dutch
representatives from WWF, two ISIR members were present as well, Hendrika
Lautenbach and myself.
The official opening of the seminar by Mr J. Patipi took place at the office of the
Governor of Irian Jaya.The second day was reserved for the presentation of papers and
subsequent discussions. Papers were presented by such scholars as Taufik Abdullah
(PMB-LIPI), Yulfita Raharjo (PPT-LIPI), Prof. H. Soedarto (UNCEN), Prof. Lucky
Sondakh (Un. Ratulangi; Manado), and Dr H. Haeruman (Bappenas). Most papers dealt
with the question of how to upgrade human resources and how to apply this knowledge
for the benefit of the local population. In the discussions following the presentation of the
papers, cultural and environmental factors received the lion's share of the
attention.
Haeruman argued that the quality of human resources should be improved through
education, the raising of health standards, and the upgrading of the productivity of the
work force with the aim of developing Irian Jaya. Although transmigration is seen as one
very important way to improve human resources, local regulations that influence
economic actions, such as land rights and the local market should not be overlooked.
Yulfita Raharjo showed that although the per capita income had improved through
investments, there had been little benefit to the local population because investment had
not been made in projects that are directly relevant to the local population, such as
education and health care. She, like Haeruman, argued for an improvement in the social
situation in order to upgrade the human resource level.
Lucky Sontack discussed issues such as work ethos, the influence of alcohol, motivation,
responsibility, and cargo-cults that could affect the efficiency of economic activities. He
also commented that the way development funds are spent is a political choice which is
not always in the best interest of the local population. The audience gave his point of
view an enthusiastic response.
Soedarto examined cultural factors in some depth. He argued that development-stagnating
factors should be identified as a strong, static adat and then changed. With
cogent insight, Taufuk Abdallah stated that if you want to involve cultural factors in
development
strategies, you should be aware of the fact that a population cannot be changed simply as
planned, it has the right to adapt its own culture to the new developments according to its
own ideas and perceived needs. Applied anthropology could help to form development
strategies more attuned to the desires and capacities of a population.
On the third day, four workgroups were formed to discuss and look for solutions for or
alternatives to development problems in certain selected areas: Biak; Jayawijiaya; Timika;
and Jayapura. I joined the session on Biak. Biak is scheduled to become a centre for
transport, industry and tourism for the area. The government and investors argue that the
plans include enlargement of educational opportunities and job promotion and that the
local population is free to participate in the development of the island, and that only a
small group will need to move and sell their land. Refusing to be lulled into a sense of
false security, the other participants in the workgroup, worried that the profits from
industry and tourism will not benefit the local population and that the natural resources,
needed to attract tourists, will be damaged. Intrinsically, rapid changes do not give the
local population time to acquire essential education and develop the required work ethos
to take part in the new income sectors. Despite such pertinent objection, the plans are not
likely to be modified.
On the last day of the seminar, reports of the discussions were presented to the governor
to mark the conclusion of the seminar. One general conclusion was the recognition of the
need to integrate the local population more intensively into the development programmes
if their situation is to improve in step with the development potential of Irian Jaya. The
interdisciplinary approach of the seminar led to interesting discussions and questions. It
was generally recognized that anthropological knowledge should play a role in the
refinement of development programmes, but the proof of the pudding will be in the
eating. The seminar did perhaps contribute to a stimulating of an awareness of the
complexity of development problems and the many factors which cannot be ignored in
such an operation.