ABRI to get new role in Irian Jaya<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is changing its approach
\nin Irian Jaya in a bid to win the hearts of people there, with
\nits highest regional commander pledging Saturday to look after
\nlocal villagers rather than fight separatist rebels.<\/p>\n
Trikora Regional Military Chief Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring said
\nsoldiers to be sent to the country's easternmost region in the
\nfuture would be armed with agricultural equipment, seeds for
\nplanting and livestock, instead of weapons.<\/p>\n
He said ABRI would change its \"military operations\" policy,
\nintroducing new measures under a \"territorial development\" policy
\n-- which would focus more on helping local villagers pursue a
\nbetter life.<\/p>\n
\"Just until recently, there are quite a few ABRI soldiers
\ncombing the deep forest of Irian Jaya, looking for GPK (term for
\nthe separatist rebels).<\/p>\n
\"Now, it's no longer necessary. Looking after people in the
\nvillages is better,\" Sembiring was quoted by Antara as saying in
\nthe province's town of Manokwari.<\/p>\n
Sembiring hoped the planned change in military approach to the
\nIrian people would also help lure back the separatist rebels
\nstill waging sporadic guerrilla operations against ABRI.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped the activists of the Free Papua Movement
\nwould return to their home villages to work their land hand-in-
\nhand with other villagers and soldiers.<\/p>\n
The Free Papua Movement has been fighting for an independent
\nWest Papua independent state since the former Dutch West Irian
\nbecame the country's 26th province in 1963.<\/p>\n
Sembiring's announcement over the weekend came following
\nseveral incidents in which Irianese have staged rallies to demand
\nan independent state.<\/p>\n
At least one person died and another was injured when soldiers
\nopened fire at a pro-independence rally at a university in
\nJayapura on July 3.<\/p>\n
On July 6, at least one man was killed when troops fired shots
\nin Biak to disband a mass rally, which included the raising of
\noutlawed West Papua flags. Five other people have remained
\nmissing since, human rights observers have said.<\/p>\n
Sembiring, a former Manokwari military chief, conceded there
\nhad been \"several unsuitable things\" taking place given the war-
\nlike \"military operations\" policy being carried out in the
\nprovince during the past decades.<\/p>\n
He admitted the policy had led to human rights violations and
\nalso had prompted many groups and prominent members of the
\nsociety in Irian Jaya to urge ABRI to withdraw itself from the
\nregion.<\/p>\n
Responding to the growing calls, Sembiring claimed to have
\ndiscussed the issue with several related parties and subsequently
\nhad agreed that the military would change its existing approach
\ninstead.<\/p>\n
\"The most important thing is, Armed Forces soldiers will be
\ngetting closer to villages, working together with social and
\nreligious leaders, community heads... even with students from
\nvarious fields of study if necessary, while coordinating with
\nvillage heads,\" Sembiring said. (prb\/aan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/abri-to-get-new-role-in-irian-jaya-1447893297",
"image": ""
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