Puzzling government<\/p>\n
If I am not mistaken the government has shown, more or less,
\nits agreement the people of Irian Jaya to convene a Papuan
\npeople's congress by giving a donation of Rp 1 billion to the
\norganizers and the promise that the president himself would
\nattend. A picture also appeared in Suara Karya on May 30, 2000
\nshowing the vice president reading the name tag on the chest of
\nthe commander in chief of the Papua Liberation Army, Gen.
\nBernadus Mawen in the Merdeka Selatan Palace.<\/p>\n
At that time the Papuan delegation already had expressed their
\nwish that the Republic should give back their freedom and
\nsovereignty which was proclaimed in 1961 by the Papuan people.
\nTheir integration with the republic after a \"referendum\" in 1969
\nwas just a conspiracy between the republic, the Dutch government,
\nthe USA and the United Nations.<\/p>\n
The recent action and attitude of the two most important
\npeople of the republic is a puzzle and cannot be understood. The
\npresident promised to attend the congress and they both know the
\naim of the Papuan people. From that moment, they should declare
\nthis congress illegal as expressed by the official of the
\nFunctional Group (Golkar) Effendy Yusuf and a prominent member of
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Prof
\nDimyati Hartono and former Commander of the XVII Cendrawasih area
\nMaj. Gen. Samsudin.<\/p>\n
I remember what the president said in an interview, broadcast
\nnationwide by TVRI. He said: \"If people expressed their will to
\nbe independent, let them do that, that is just talk. But if they
\norganize themselves, make up a time schedule of action and arm
\nthemselves, then they must be arrested. The government is
\nserious\".<\/p>\n
Effendy Yusuf is of the opinion that what the Papua congress
\naspired can already be classified as subversive action and the
\ngovernment should act. If the government does not take firm
\nsteps, it can be interpreted as silent approval, which might
\ncreate serious consequences for other \"hot\" areas. A political
\nobserver from the USA also expressed that he is more concerned
\nabout Papua than Aceh.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly Gen. Bernadus Mawen voiced his opinion, which
\nsounds mature, that everything depends on the decision of the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly. He did not mention what the
\nPapuan people will do if their demand is refused.<\/p>\n
I hope that our top leaders will take measures to avoid
\nfurther problems and remain firm.<\/p>\n
SOEGIH ARTO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/puzzling-government-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }