Soldiers placed on alert in Papua<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
A high-ranking Army general has ordered his troops to be on
\nthe alert against possible attacks from the Free Papua Movement
\n(OPM) ahead of the Dec. 1 Papua Independence Day.<\/p>\n
The high alert was necessary, as the Papuan rebels generally
\ncaused chaos prior to the anniversary in order to show the public
\nthat they still existed, said Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal, chief of
\nthe Trikora military command overseeing Papua province.<\/p>\n
\"Prior to Papua Independence Day, rebel leaders would issue
\ncirculars ordering their troops to attack police and military
\nposts, or even public venues. So TNI personnel must remain
\nvigilant,\" Nurdin told reporters here on Friday, after attending
\nthe 40th anniversary of a Jayapura military base.<\/p>\n
The OPM and independence sympathizers have marked Dec. 1 as
\nPapua's independence day.<\/p>\n
Last year, despite a ban by the government, some 500 Papuans
\ncelebrated their independence day in Jayapura, in front of the
\nhouse of the late Papuan independence leader, Theys Hiyo Eluay,
\nwho was murdered by TNI soldiers.<\/p>\n
The soldiers have since been tried by a human rights tribunal
\nand sentenced.<\/p>\n
Seven people were arrested after the celebration on suspicions
\nof attempting to incite violence and attack government offices.<\/p>\n
A string of protests against the Indonesian government were
\nalso held across major cities in Papua a few days before the
\nincident, which raised tension in the troubled province.<\/p>\n
Nurdin asserted that his order this year was timely, following
\na rebel attack last Tuesday in Paniai regency, some 500
\nkilometers southwest of Jayapura. Four construction workers were
\nkilled and a police officer was badly injured in the attack.<\/p>\n
A day later in Jayawijaya regency, TNI troops killed 10 OPM
\nmembers, including their leader Yustinus Murib.<\/p>\n
\"They will probably take revenge sometime soon. They may not
\nattack large military posts, but they will likely assault small
\nmilitary and police posts in remote areas,\" Nurdin said.<\/p>\n
The troops have also been told to beef up security in the
\nprovince to prevent minor conflicts from escalating, and they
\nhave been instructed to shoot on sight any parties attempting to
\ncause riots.<\/p>\n
Nurdin commands more than 9,000 soldiers in Papua under the
\nTrikora military command. The TNI has deployed an additional some
\n2,600 soldiers throughout the province, which is home to 2.4
\nmillion people.<\/p>\n
Attacks have continued periodically since the OPM began an
\narmed resistance against the Indonesian government for an
\nindependent Papua, after the province was incorporated into
\nIndonesia in 1963.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Papua Governor JP Salossa called on the Papuan
\npeople not to undertake any activities that could raise tension
\nin the province, including hoisting the Morning Star independence
\nflag or other separatist symbols.<\/p>\n
Salossa also cautioned the military to distinguish between
\ncivilians and OPM members, in order to avoid killing innocent
\ncivilians in their effort to crush the separatist movement.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldiers-placed-on-alert-in-papua-1447893297",
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