Government adamant Irian will remain in Indonesia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed on Monday
\nhis tough warning to proindependence supporters in Irian Jaya,
\nsaying he would do his best to keep Indonesia's sovereignty over
\nthe easternmost province intact.<\/p>\n
Speaking in a regular media conference at Bina Graha
\npresidential palace, Abdurrahman said the government would
\nmaintain security and public order in the natural resource rich
\nterritory following the Papuan Congress, which wound up on Sunday
\nwith participants declaring their support for independence.<\/p>\n
The President said the majority of the Papuan people actually
\nopted to remain part of Indonesia, but they were not allowed to
\nattend the congress by the rebellious minority.<\/p>\n
He condemned proindependence people for intimidating pro-
\nIndonesian people by barring them from entering the congress
\nvenue.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman said that although the government would not risk
\nlosing Indonesia's sovereignty, it would not violate human rights
\nin upholding the law in the province.<\/p>\n
\"But besides that, we will also do our outmost to maintain
\norder, in the sense that the police, if necessary, assisted by
\nthe military, will take actions to maintain the security of the
\narea and the province.<\/p>\n
\"If that means doing something to people without violating
\nhuman rights then they (security forces) will do that,\"
\nAbdurrahman said.<\/p>\n
The President also pointed out that he had ordered Minister of
\nForeign Affairs Alwi Shihab to summon foreign ambassadors in
\nJakarta and told them about the diplomatic consequences the
\ncountries would face from Indonesia if they did something against
\nthe country's sovereignty.<\/p>\n
\"The countries have assured that they honor Indonesia's
\nterritorial integrity including on Irian Jaya. Therefore they
\nwill not take any action to acknowledge a free Papua,\" the
\nPresident said.<\/p>\n
Without disclosing the amount, Abdurrahman also confirmed that
\nhe had provided financial assistance for the congress.<\/p>\n
He said the congress leaders agreed with his condition that
\npro-Indonesian people would also be allowed to attend and that no
\nforeigners would be given access to the congress.<\/p>\n
\"There is money from the private sector which was channeled
\nthrough me. The fund was then used to finance the congress,\" the
\nPresident remarked.<\/p>\n
Then acting state secretary Bondan Gunawan said last month,
\nAbdurrahman had donated Rp 1 billion to finance the congress.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police Chief Gen. Rusdihardjo said police
\nwould remain vigilant as to how things develop in the province.
\nHe pledged that police personnel would not treat Papuans as their
\nenemies but as compatriots.<\/p>\n
\"We need to maintain our cool, they are all our brothers,\"
\nRusdihardjo said.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Human Rights Affairs Hasballah M. Saad said
\nthe government would summon the organizing committee of the
\ncongress to Jakarta to brief them on the government's stance on
\nthe congress.<\/p>\n
\"We, under the coordinating minister for political affairs and
\nsecurity, will ask them about their demands and why the congress
\nwent beyond their commitment to the government,\" Hasballah told
\nreporters on Monday.<\/p>\n
Separately, the United States Embassy in Jakarta, issued a
\nstatement on Monday, reiterating the country's support over
\nIndonesia's sovereignty on Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
The embassy confirmed it sent its diplomat as an observer to
\nthe congress, but emphasized it was in accordance with normal
\npractices.<\/p>\n
\"The United States Government strongly supports the
\nterritorial integrity of Indonesia. The U.S. does not support
\nindependence for Papua or any other part of Indonesia,\" the
\nstatement said.<\/p>\n
A U.S. subsidiary company, copper and gold miner PT Freeport
\nIndonesia is operating in the rich oil and mineral resourced
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
In the provincial capital Jayapura, a sea of people celebrated
\nthe independence declaration with Yosim Pancar dances and the
\nperformance of local music groups in an all night party on
\nSunday. The celebration took place in the congress venue GOR
\nSports Hall and the Irian Jaya Arts Council building.<\/p>\n
In Wamena subdistrict, Jayapura, a group from the Papua Task
\nForce burnt down five houses after a brawl with some drunken
\nvillagers. The villagers stabbed one of the militia members.<\/p>\n
According to Antara, the villagers were upset because the task
\nforce had forced Deky Naray to lend his car to be used during the
\ncongress.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, military and police provided several trucks,
\nwarships and planes to send home the congress participants.<\/p>\n
\"It is merely a humanitarian assistance,\" acting Irian Jaya
\nGovernor Musiran said. (eba\/dja\/edt\/cst\/byg\/prb)<\/p>",
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