Ex-militiamman defers papua plan for nationalist group
Ex-militiamman defers papua plan for nationalist group
Nethy Darma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Timika, Papua
A group of former East Timorese militiamen postponed a plan on
Tuesday to open a branch office of their pro-integration Red-and-
White Defenders Front (FPMP) in Papua province, following strong
objections from the local people.
Munawir Yacub, who was elected secretary of the organization's
branch in Mimika regency, said that he, however, would continue
to promote its objectives in the province. He expected that
within two or three years, the local people would accept the
FPMP's presence in the territory.
"I think it will be useless for us to continue with the plan
(to establish a branch office) if it only leads to conflicts
among local communities," Munawir told The Jakarta Post.
Former East Timorese militia leader and head of FPMP Eurico
Gutteres plans to fly to Papua on Tuesday to lead an inauguration
ceremony for new FPMP members.
Munawir said Gutteres was also slated to meet provincial
leaders during his visit and to hold a presentation on the FPMP's
vision and mission, which was "no different from those of other
youth organizations in the country".
Even though the local administration has yet to reveal its
stance on the issue, Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo
said earlier that security officers would not allow the
establishment of the organization there if "its presence is to
cause disturbances".
A similar militia group called the Red-and-White Task Force,
believed to have the backing of the Indonesian Military (TNI),
was established in Papua late 2001.
The Task Force recruited members from migrant communities,
raising concerns that it could spark conflicts with native
Papuans.
Migrants, who tends to have a higher standard of living than
Papuans, once expressed fears that they would some day be
expelled from the territory if separatist groups won support for
their pro-independence movement.
Separatist groups have long been campaigning for an
independent Papua, a resource-rich province, but whose people see
little of the profits gleaned from the region's natural
resources. Rampant human rights abuses by security forces have
also helped to fuel separatist sentiments.
Separatist group Free Papua Movement (OPM) has been waging a
small armed struggle following its self-declared independence of
the state of Papua on Dec. 1, 1963.
Tom Beanal, chairman of the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) and
head of the Amungme tribe, said people in the territory did not
need such task forces to prevent conflicts, saying that "we are
all okay here".
One of the Papuan leaders with whom Gutteres wished to meet,
Beanal said he did not want to waste his time meeting the East
Timorese man, as "he has a reputation as human rights violator in
Timor Leste (East Timor)".
"That man once committed gross human rights abuses in Timor
Leste when the people there were fighting for independence in
1999. He misses the land (East Timor), and why should he come
here now and establish such a front?
"Will he again commit a similar violence in a movement to
maintain integrity of the country? The FPMP has different goals
from the Papuan people, as most of us wish for independence,"
said Beanal.
Gutteres once supported pro-integration militias in East
Timor. Many believed that the military was behind his activities
to spread terror among the East Timorese before, during and after
the 1999 UN-sponsored referendum for self-determination.
Gutteres was convicted by an ad hoc human rights court in
Jakarta for his involvement in the 1999 mayhem.
The court sentenced him to 10 years in prison in November
2002, but he remains free pending his appeal.