Irian independence impossible: Habibie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie told his Cabinet on
\nMonday there was a group of people in Irian Jaya who
\nmisunderstood his recent statement on the possibility of
\nindependence for the province.<\/p>\n
The President confirmed he recently advised Irianese leaders
\nto reconsider their demands for separation from Indonesia. He
\nhinted that what he actually meant was that the government would
\nnot tolerate any separatist movements.<\/p>\n
\"They (Irianese leaders) said they had considered the
\nissue... and that their conclusion was that they wanted
\nindependence,\" Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus
\nsaid when briefing journalists on the results of a six-hour
\nCabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential palace.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 26, Habibie met with a group of Irianese leaders,
\nincluding tribal chiefs, outspoken independence leader Tom Beanal
\nand Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numbery.<\/p>\n
The President asked the leaders \"to reconsider and think about
\nthe consequences (of independence) because abundant natural
\nresources alone are not a sufficient guarantee for the future\".<\/p>\n
Habibie reiterated on Monday that Irian Jaya was an integral
\npart of Indonesia and the government would firmly crack down on
\nany separatist activities.<\/p>\n
\"They (separatists) will face the full forces of the nation,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
On the basis of a United Nations-sponsored agreement between
\nthe Netherlands, the former colonial power of Irian Jaya, and
\nIndonesia, West Irian became part of Indonesia in May 1963. Ten
\nyears later, then president Soeharto renamed the province Irian
\nJaya (Glorious Irian).<\/p>\n
The 421,981-square-kilometer province is three and a half
\ntimes the size of Java. Statistics from 1995 showed the
\npopulation of the province was about two million.<\/p>\n
The government will divide Irian Jaya into three provinces and
\nMaluku into two provinces after the general election in June.<\/p>\n
According to Yunus, the Ministry of Home Affairs will begin
\ndrafting a bill on the division of the provinces on Wednesday and
\nplans to complete the draft by the end of the month.<\/p>\n
It is possible Irian Jaya will hold a local election to elect
\nlocal legislatures, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The plan's realization is expected after the elections,\"
\nYunus said.<\/p>\n
Before the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs, Feisal Tanjung, said the division of both Irian
\nJaya and Maluku will have to take place either before or after
\nelections.<\/p>\n
But if they were divided after the June elections Feisal said
\na local poll should take place to establish the local
\nlegislatures. (prb)<\/p>",
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