ID :
14414
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 15:11
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14414
The shortlink copeid
SOME 172 PAPUA VILLAGERS DIE OF CHOLERA
Jayapura, Indonesia, July 30 (ANTARA) - Some 172 residents of Lembah Kamuu, a remote village in Moneman sub-district, Paniai district, Papua province, have died of cholera since April 6, 2008, a local church official said.
The Bible Christian Church, Chatolic Church and Kingmi Church expressed deep concern about the tragedy, Rev Benny Giay of the Kingmi Church said at a press conference attended by representatives of local churches here on Wednesday.
Cholera and diarrhea outbreaks killed many residents including children, said Giay who also expressed his regret that Paniai district authorities had not made any efforts to prevent or curb the diseases.
The disease outbreaks provoked local Papuans to commit acts of violence against non-Papuan residents as the local Papuan villagers suspected that the diseases had been intentionally spread by outsiders to decimate the indigenous people, he said.
Some indigenous people vandalized houses belonging to new comers because of the suspicion, he said.
Benny Giyai said that he had sent a letter to Papua Governor Barnabas Saebu on July 24, 2008, to report outbreak of the diseases but he had not yet received any response as the governor was busy making tours out of Jayapura.
He said the governer should have prioritized his people's health rather than his tour program.
The Bible Christian Church, Chatolic Church and Kingmi Church expressed deep concern about the tragedy, Rev Benny Giay of the Kingmi Church said at a press conference attended by representatives of local churches here on Wednesday.
Cholera and diarrhea outbreaks killed many residents including children, said Giay who also expressed his regret that Paniai district authorities had not made any efforts to prevent or curb the diseases.
The disease outbreaks provoked local Papuans to commit acts of violence against non-Papuan residents as the local Papuan villagers suspected that the diseases had been intentionally spread by outsiders to decimate the indigenous people, he said.
Some indigenous people vandalized houses belonging to new comers because of the suspicion, he said.
Benny Giyai said that he had sent a letter to Papua Governor Barnabas Saebu on July 24, 2008, to report outbreak of the diseases but he had not yet received any response as the governor was busy making tours out of Jayapura.
He said the governer should have prioritized his people's health rather than his tour program.
