Papuan Council chiefs take conciliatory steps<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police said that the Presidium of the Papuan
\nCouncil (PDP) on Friday has begun to take conciliatory steps
\nfollowing the government's decision to crackdown on pro-
\nindependence forces in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
"The PDP in Wamena has announced seven points on last weeks
\nbloody incident (in Wamena) which basically states their wish to
\nsupport legal action against the perpetrators of the Oct. 6
\nfray," Irian Jaya Police Operation and Control chief Sr. Supt. M.
\nKusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone from Jayapura.<\/p>\n
A total of 35 suspects, mostly pro-independence supporters
\nfrom the Satgas Papua task force, have been detained in relation
\nwith the riot in Wamena.<\/p>\n
"They also promised not to repeat their wrongdoing and to no
\nlonger threaten the migrants. Members of Satgas Papua have
\ngradually retreated to the jungles but we are still tightly
\nmonitoring the situation," he said.<\/p>\n
According to Kusnadi, authorities are also proactively
\nconducting routine patrols around migrant settlers to avoid
\npossible disputes.<\/p>\n
"By the end of this month we hope there are no longer
\nactivities such as hoisting the separatist flag...(But) we're
\nstill anticipating the possibility of a dispute ahead of Dec. 1
\nsince that was the PDP's planned date to declare Irian's
\nindependence".<\/p>\n
"Basically there is still a latent danger from this separatist
\nmovement, especially since they fled into the jungle," the
\nofficer added.<\/p>\n
Military and police sources have said that Wamena is known as
\nthe biggest base camp of the Papua taskforce. Unofficial
\nestimates put their total number at up to 10,000.<\/p>\n
The town of Wamena was engulfed in a bloody riot last week
\nafter security forces pulled down the separatist Morning Star
\nflag.<\/p>\n
At least 30, mostly migrant settlers, were killed in the
\nbloody fracas in Wamena, located some 290 kilometers southwest of
\nthe provincial capital of Jayapura.<\/p>\n
Thousands of migrants have fled their homes and are seeking
\nshelter at military and police posts.<\/p>\n
It is also reported that some 45,000 students from elementary
\nto secondary schools have been abandoned since most of their
\nteachers have fled the regency.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Friday that as a result the quarterly
\nexamination has been postponed.<\/p>\n
In Bandung, Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Indonesia Taricius
\nEri stressed on Friday that his country would not interfere with
\nthe problems in Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
"The upheaval in Irian Jaya will not affect the relations
\nbetween Papua New Guinea and Indonesia," Eri said on the
\nsidelines of a joint border committee meeting between officials
\nof the two countries.(25\/edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuan-council-chiefs-take-conciliatory-steps-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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