Papus in danger

1997/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Giza zientziak

The island of New Guinea depends on two states. In the western part, Irian-Jaya commands Indonesia, whose dads are increasingly at risk of survival. The bloody revolts that have carried out hundreds of armed aborigines in the capital of Jayapura are a sign of discomfort, as Indonesians extol or murder their inhabitants.

Its main enemy is the Indonesian army. The Catholic Church has published a report explaining the abuses committed by soldiers. The Indonesian government has sold numerous concessions to western mining and carpentry companies and the military has become mercenaries of them. In the United States, for example, the Freeport company exploits the largest gold mine in the world in the territory called Timika and pollutes 50 km2 ^around the mine.

Another threat from the papus is the immigration of the javatarras. The excess population on the main island of the Archipelago makes them approach Irian-Jaya. But because of immigration, they are robbed of their lands and uninsurmountable between different cultures. Javatarras, for example, are Muslims and are prohibited from eating pork. In the culture of the papos, however, pork is the main power source and is used for exchange.