Kontras wants consistency on Papua<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of
\nViolence (Kontras) continued to demand on Wednesday that the
\ngovernment be responsible for several policies it has imposed on
\nthe troubled Irian Jaya province, in line with its document
\nissued on June 9, 2000.<\/p>\n
\"Even though Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said that
\nthe government had not followed up on the guidelines contained
\nwithin the document, called the Matoa Document, it (the
\nstatement) contradicts the actual situation,\" Munir, Kontras'
\nchairman of the supervising council told a media conference,
\nreferring to the many operations taking place there that have
\ntaken the life of civilians.<\/p>\n
\"Hari's argument that the government had not carried out
\noperations there for financial reasons was unacceptable, as
\nintelligence operations go on. Who funds them anyway?\" Munir
\nasked.<\/p>\n
As reported earlier, Kontras accused the government of being
\nbehind the recent death of Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo
\nEluay, saying that the murder was part of a plan to repress
\nrising calls for independence in the province.<\/p>\n
The accusation was based on its discovery of a document issued
\nby the directorate general of national integrity and public
\nprotection at the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 9 last year.<\/p>\n
Following Kontras' accusation, Hari admitted that several
\nofficials, including military officers, held a special
\ncoordinating meeting at the ministry. The meeting was led by
\nincumbent National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) chairman
\nErmaya Suradinata.<\/p>\n
In the meeting operational guidelines were established,
\ntargeting proindependence activists and others considered a
\nthreat to the central government due to their stance on
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
However, he asserted, \"the document had nothing to do with
\nTheys' death as the government didn't follow it up due to lack of
\nfunds.\"<\/p>\n
Responding to Hari's statement, Munir said that the government
\nhad been inconsistent in clarifying the issue. He pointed to a
\nstatement made by Coordinating Minister for Political and
\nSecurity Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had earlier denied
\nthe presence of the document.<\/p>\n
The denial, however, was later corrected by Ermaya himself,
\nwho admitted that he had signed the document, which \"did not
\nspecifically reveal any names of groups or individuals considered
\na threat to central government\".<\/p>\n
\"Which of the statements made by the three state officials is
\ncorrect?,\" Munir asked.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kontras-wants-consistency-on-papua-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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