No need for additional troops in Irian: Albert<\/p>\n
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Trikora Military Command chief Maj.
\nGen. Albert Ingkiriwang overseeing Irian Jaya says there is no
\nneed to send reinforcements to the province, despite growing
\ncalls for separatism.<\/p>\n
Albert told journalists on Thursday that the security
\nsituation in the province was stable.<\/p>\n
\"Even if there have been activities involving a lot of people
\nshouting for freedom, none of them have threatened security,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
His comments came on the heels of a Papuan People's Congress
\nthat asserted the desire for independence.<\/p>\n
The government and the House of Representatives have taken a
\nfirm stance against the congress, rejecting its call for a
\nseparate state of West Papua.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the Army's Strategic Reserves Commander
\n(Kostrad), Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, suggested the
\npossibility of sending more troops to the restive province to
\nquell separatist operations.<\/p>\n
Albert conceded that there had been plenty of activity,
\nparticularly during the seven-day congress that ended on Sunday.
\nHe maintained, however, there had been no incidents that
\nwarranted a security alarm.<\/p>\n
He advised the government to listen to what the people in the
\nregion were saying before making any hasty decisions.<\/p>\n
\"There is no need for weapons to deal with the situation in
\nthe area,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, political scientist Cornelis Lay from Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta also warned against excessive troop
\ndeployment in the province.<\/p>\n
\"Once the government sends in its troops, Papua will be
\nliberated,\" Cornelis said.<\/p>\n
He warned that further troop deployment could work against
\nIndonesia and play toward the sympathy of the international
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
Cornelis said that even though the international community
\ncurrently acknowledged Irian Jaya as part of Indonesia, it was
\nstill possible for the province to gain support for separation.<\/p>\n
\"Especially now, when political adventurers have no other
\ntarget after East Timor, the ripest target would be Irian,\" he
\nwarned.<\/p>\n
The European Union, meanwhile, reconfirmed Thursday its
\nsupport for Indonesia's territorial integrity, after the Papuan
\nPeople's Congress declared that West Papua was not part of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the European Union said it \"has taken note\" of
\nthe independence declaration.<\/p>\n
\"The EU has repeatedly stressed its support for a strong,
\ndemocratic, united and prosperous Indonesia,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
\"It has also stressed its support for Indonesia's territorial
\nintegrity, and for efforts of the current Indonesian government
\nto solve problems, such as Aceh and Irian Jaya, through peaceful
\nnegotiation,\" it said.<\/p>\n
The statement added that the European Union was expected to
\nreassert that position at a meeting next Wednesday with
\nIndonesian counterpart Alwi Abdurrahman Shihab.<\/p>\n
That meeting in Luxembourg, pencilled into a regular monthly
\nconclave of EU foreign ministers, is intended to \"launch the
\nenhanced EU-Indonesian relationship,\" the statement said.<\/p>\n
Previously the United States and Japan flatly rejected the
\nIrian Jayan declaration of independence. (10\/44\/har\/eba)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-need-for-additional-troops-in-irian-albert-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}