ABRI to get new role in Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is changing its approach in Irian Jaya in a bid to win the hearts of people there, with its highest regional commander pledging Saturday to look after local villagers rather than fight separatist rebels.

Trikora Regional Military Chief Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring said soldiers to be sent to the country's easternmost region in the future would be armed with agricultural equipment, seeds for planting and livestock, instead of weapons.

He said ABRI would change its "military operations" policy, introducing new measures under a "territorial development" policy -- which would focus more on helping local villagers pursue a better life.

"Just until recently, there are quite a few ABRI soldiers combing the deep forest of Irian Jaya, looking for GPK (term for the separatist rebels).

"Now, it's no longer necessary. Looking after people in the villages is better," Sembiring was quoted by Antara as saying in the province's town of Manokwari.

Sembiring hoped the planned change in military approach to the Irian people would also help lure back the separatist rebels still waging sporadic guerrilla operations against ABRI.

He said he hoped the activists of the Free Papua Movement would return to their home villages to work their land hand-in- hand with other villagers and soldiers.

The Free Papua Movement has been fighting for an independent West Papua independent state since the former Dutch West Irian became the country's 26th province in 1963.

Sembiring's announcement over the weekend came following several incidents in which Irianese have staged rallies to demand an independent state.

At least one person died and another was injured when soldiers opened fire at a pro-independence rally at a university in Jayapura on July 3.

On July 6, at least one man was killed when troops fired shots in Biak to disband a mass rally, which included the raising of outlawed West Papua flags. Five other people have remained missing since, human rights observers have said.

Sembiring, a former Manokwari military chief, conceded there had been "several unsuitable things" taking place given the war- like "military operations" policy being carried out in the province during the past decades.

He admitted the policy had led to human rights violations and also had prompted many groups and prominent members of the society in Irian Jaya to urge ABRI to withdraw itself from the region.

Responding to the growing calls, Sembiring claimed to have discussed the issue with several related parties and subsequently had agreed that the military would change its existing approach instead.

"The most important thing is, Armed Forces soldiers will be getting closer to villages, working together with social and religious leaders, community heads... even with students from various fields of study if necessary, while coordinating with village heads," Sembiring said. (prb/aan)