ABC AUSTRALIA, 19/02/2007, 19:51:46
Thousands displaced in Indonesia's Papua: Church
Church leaders in the Indonesian province of Papua say more than 5,000 internally
displaced people are hiding out in isolated villages and forests.
They say they were driven from their homes two months ago by fighting between Free
Papua Movement Rebels and the Indonesian military.
Reverend Lipiyus Biniluk from Indonesian Evangelical Church says their situation is
dire.
"People still need food, people not stay in their own home, because they still afraid of
army and FPM leaders," he said.
"So they still need food and medicine, because nobody helps them today."
Indonesian police and military deny the existence of displaced persons.
They say the fighting between Indonesian forces and FPM rebels has ended.
© 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
