Police detain a suspect in Timika clashes<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Papua\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police in Timika, Papua have detained as a suspect, a man
\nidentified only as LS and questioned seven others for alleged
\nroles in bloody clashes over the controversial creation of
\nCentral Irian Jaya province last week.<\/p>\n
Days of bloody clashes have been ongoing sporadically since
\nlast Saturday between opponents and supporters of the new
\nprovince, prompting Jakarta to postpone its own decision
\nindefinitely.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the death toll in the conflict rose to five after
\nYulita Takati, who sustained a serious arrow wound to her chest
\non Wednesday, died in a local hospital on Friday.<\/p>\n
At least 104 others, from both sides, were injured in the
\nclashes that mostly ended on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
As of Friday, the situation was said to relatively calm. Main
\nroads that had been closed for several days were opened, and
\nschools resumed classes.<\/p>\n
Timika police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpau said LS
\nwould be charged with Article 160 of the country's Criminal Code
\nfor inciting a riot, which carries a maximum jail sentence of six
\nyears.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said Friday that
\npolice would remain on alert for possible renewed clashes.<\/p>\n
Police have deployed so far two companies of police
\nreinforcements to Timika. They came from Makassar in South
\nSulawesi, and Jayapura in the northern part of Papua.<\/p>\n
Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo met on Friday with
\nthe leaders of the two camps in order to open up an opportunity
\nfor the two groups to reconcile.<\/p>\n
The move would be followed up by the Papua provincial
\nadministration which is scheduled to hold a meeting involving
\nreligious leaders and local figures to discuss the fate of
\nJakarta's plan on the establishment of Central Irian Jaya and
\nreconciliation.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, led by Papuan figure Tom Beanal, the one group also
\nappointed Elsham, a Papua-based non-governmental organization
\ndealing with the human rights issues, to file a class action
\nlawsuit against the government and to demand that the central
\ngovernment annul its decision to partition Papua into three
\nprovinces -- Papua, Central Irian Jaya and West Irian Jaya.<\/p>\n
They were particularly referring to the previously suspended
\nlaw No. 45\/1999 on the establishment of West and Central Irian
\nJaya provinces, North Maluku, and the creation of Paniai, Mimika,
\nPuncak Jaya and Sorong regencies, as well as Presidential
\nInstruction No. 1\/2003 which effectively re-activates Law 45
\nafter it was dormant under the two previous governments due to
\nwidespread Papuan discontent on the matter.<\/p>\n
"The two regulations are controversial, and create animosity
\namong the people that has led to the death of five Papuans and
\ninjuries to more than 100 others.<\/p>\n
"The government has to drop the policy to divide Papua because
\nof so much popular opposition here and because it violates the
\nlaw," Elsham executive director Alosyus Renwarin told reporters,
\nreferring to Law No. 21\/2001 on the special autonomy status for
\nPapua.<\/p>\n
Law No. 21\/2001 stipulates that Papua covers what law No. 45
\ncalls Papua, Central Irian Jaya and West Irian Jaya. It also
\nstates that any move to divide the province requires prior
\napproval from the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), the province's
\nhighest legislative body consisting of traditional leaders,
\nreligious leaders and noted public figures.<\/p>\n
The MRP, however, has not been established, allegedly due to
\nfoot dragging in Jakarta even though it has been almost two years
\nsince the special autonomy status took effect on Jan. 1, 2002.<\/p>\n
Separately, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza
\nMahendra said in Jakarta that his Ministry would review the
\nregulations on Papua within a month and promised to grant special
\nautonomy even though the province was divided into three smaller
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Yusril asserted that the decision to delay the creation of
\nCentral Irian Jaya province did not mean that the government
\nwould drop the plan.<\/p>\n
"Problems with regard to the regulations come up when the
\nspecial autonomy law recognizes only one Papua as a whole
\nprovince, overriding law No. 45\/1999.<\/p>\n
"But even though we (the government) will divide Papua into
\nthree, it doesn't mean that the special autonomy will only be
\neffective in one certain province," Yusril added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-detain-a-suspect-in-timika-clashes-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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