Soldiers on full alert to curb Papua attacks<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Security forces will be on full alert across Papua on the eve of
\nthe country's 58th Independence Day on Sunday to prevent possible
\nseparatist attacks in the troubled province, the Indonesian
\nMilitary said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Police in Jawawijaya regency say they are bracing for attacks.<\/p>\n
Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal, overseeing
\nsecurity in Papua, said on Thursday he had issued an order to
\ncurb separatist activities ahead of and during the celebrations.<\/p>\n
The military had found leaflets from separatist leaders urging
\nsupporters to boycott celebrations, he said.<\/p>\n
\"Though it is only a leaflet ... the Indonesian Military
\nshould not ignore it because rebels usually choose to attack at
\nsuch times, including on Aug. 17.\"<\/p>\n
The Free Papua Movement (OPM) and other separatist groups in
\nPapua have been waging low-level, often non-violent campaigns for
\nindependence for the resource-rich province for decades.<\/p>\n
The military has blamed the OPM for last year's attack on a
\nconvoy belonging to the Freeport mining company. Two American
\nteachers and an Indonesian were killed. However, most observers
\nfirmly blame the military itself for the attack.<\/p>\n
Nurdin said if there were leaflets then there \"will be attacks
\nby OPM members,\" Nurdin said in the provincial capital Jayapura.<\/p>\n
He was speaking to journalists after presiding over a ceremony
\nmarking the installment of Lt. Col. Victor Tobing as chief of
\nPapua's intelligence detachment, replacing Lt. Col. Victor
\nTobing.<\/p>\n
Nurdin said the military would not play down the threat of
\nseparatist attacks by OPM members.<\/p>\n
Separatists could launch attacks on such a key day to show
\nthey remained in existence and that their independence day was
\nnot Aug. 17, he said.<\/p>\n
In the remote town of Wamena, Jayawijaya, police were on full
\nalert over rumors of an imminent attack by a separatist group led
\nby Petrus Tabuni.<\/p>\n
\"Now we are on full alert because of the rumors that the
\nPetrus Tabuni group will launch attacks on the eve of the Aug. 17
\nindependence celebrations,\" Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr.
\nComr. Agung Makbul said.<\/p>\n
He said that attacks would come on the heels of the already
\nheated political situation in Jayawijaya ahead of the upcoming
\nregental elections in November.<\/p>\n
The political rivalry has begun heating up between supporters
\nof rival candidates, which could stir up ethnic and tribal
\nclashes in the regency, Agung added.<\/p>\n
Despite special autonomy in 2001 to appease separatism, most
\nPapuans remain impoverished. Sporadic violence and other
\nseparatist activities continue.<\/p>\n
OPM rebels were blamed for the theft of at least 29 rifles on
\nApr. 4, 2003, from the Wamena district military command. Two
\nsoldiers were killed in the raid. However, there was suspicion
\nthat soldiers played a role in the theft because it occurred
\nunder the noses of on-duty personnel.<\/p>\n
Last month, a separatist group hoisted a Melanesian flag at
\nthe Jayawijaya legislative council. Police later arrested five
\nseparatists over the incident.<\/p>\n
Agung said these activities showed that separatism still
\nexisted and could pose a threat to Papuans.<\/p>\n
\"That's why we continue to be on alert because they
\n(separatists) can reappear and launch attacks,\" he added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldiers-on-full-alert-to-curb-papua-attacks-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}