Papuans reject Guterres plan to form pro-integration group<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Former East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres plans to
\nestablish a branch of his pro-integration Red and White Defender
\nFront (FPMP) in troubled Papua province, but local people have
\nopposed it.<\/p>\n
"What does he want in Timika (Papua)? What's his goal to set
\nup an organization here? He may have another purpose. Such an
\norganization should not exist in Papua. Currently, we live in
\npeace," local resident Benny said.<\/p>\n
Similar resistance came from Alosyus Renwarin, the acting
\ndirector of the Papua-based Elsham human rights group.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters in the provincial capital of Jayapura on
\nWednesday, he said the presence of the Red and White Defender
\nFront in Papua could spark new conflict in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
"We already know about Eurico Guterres' track record in Timor
\nLeste (East Timor). He has been involved in gross human rights
\nviolations there. Therefore, we strongly reject his presence in
\nPapua," Renwarin said.<\/p>\n
Eurico was convicted by an ad hoc human rights court in
\nJakarta for a rampage in East Timor when it voted for
\nindependence from Indonesia in 1999.<\/p>\n
The court sentenced him to 10 years in November 2002, but he
\nremains free as he appealed the verdict.<\/p>\n
The sentence quickly sparked anger from Eurico, who
\nquestioned the fairness of the human rights trial for failing to
\npunish military and police officers for their involvement in the
\natrocities that marked the territory's breakaway from the
\nrepublic after 23 years of occupation.<\/p>\n
Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo confirmed Eurico's
\nplan to open a branch of his organization, saying the former East
\nTimorese militia leader had submitted a request with the
\nprovincial police for permission.<\/p>\n
However, Utomo said he was yet to decide whether to endorse
\nthe plan or not.<\/p>\n
"I would not take a hasty decision on this matter as we are
\nstudying the group's purpose here. If it is to support security,
\nit's no problem. But if its presence is to foment disturbances,
\nwe will not issue a permit," he added.<\/p>\n
Utomo said the plan would be discussed in a security meeting
\nwith senior officials in Papua.<\/p>\n
Eurico had issued a letter dated Sept. 16, 2003, ordering the
\nestablishment of a FPMP branch office in Mimika regency.<\/p>\n
Munawir Yacob, who was recently elected the FPMP secretary of
\nMimika branch, said he has distributed 1,500 forms to Papuans
\nwanting to register to join his group.<\/p>\n
He dismissed the reasons of those opposed to the presence of
\nhis group in Papua, arguing the FPMP was a youth organization
\nlike others in the province.<\/p>\n
"Our goal is to strengthen the unity and cohesion youth in
\nmaintaining the unitary state of Indonesia. I think other youth
\norganizations such as AMPI and KNPI have similar visions,"
\nMunawir said.<\/p>\n
Separatist groups have long been campaigning for independence
\nin Papua, a resource-rich province where people complain about a
\nunfair share of their region's natural resource profits. Rampant
\nhuman rights abuses have also fueled separatism there.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/papuans-reject-guterres-plan-to-form-pro-integration-group-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}