Gen. Feisal admits Timika deaths involved 'error'

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung conceded yesterday that there had been "a procedural error and a violation of regulations" in soldiers' handling of an incident in the mining town of Timika, Irian Jaya, in June.

Feisal declined to reveal the number of casualties in the incident, but said it took place on June 1 during a military operation which had the aim of ambushing a group of people belonging to the Free Papua Organization (OPM) armed separatist group.

"During this operation, there were casualties on both the military and the GPK sides," he told a hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives.

"GPK" is the military shorthand normally reserved for separatist groups like OPM. The acronym stands for Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan (security-disturbing movement).

About 30 youths from the Forum for Solidarity of Irian Students in Java were present at the hearing. The forum's members have held a number of demonstrations in the past two weeks demanding action over the Timika incident, which came to national attention several weeks ago after a group of non-governmental organizations said that at least 17 civilians had been killed by security forces in the town.

The National Commission on Human Rights has sent a fact- finding team to Timika and is expected to announce the results of its inquiry on Friday. The Army has also sent its own team to investigate.

"Based on the (preliminary) report I received from the Army Chief of Staff, there was a violation of procedures and regulations during the incident," Feisal said.

He said he has instructed Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono to take firm action against the soldiers who breached the procedures and regulations.

Feisal said that OPM has stepped up its activities in Timika since May of last year, terrorizing both the local people and employees of American mining company PT Freeport Indonesia.

"Their activities have included the hoisting of their own official (OPM) flag, shooting at employees of the company (Freeport), attacking military posts and stealing weapons," he said.

Responding to questions from House members, the general categorically denied a more recent report suggesting that his troops in Timika had fired on a church congregation.

Feisal also defended the presence of Freeport in Timika, saying the company had brought immense benefits to the nation, particularly the people of Irian Jaya. "I think we all know that Freeport is vital to our finances," he added.

He said Freeport had developed various programs for the development of the community in Timika and its surroundings.

"(But) if the commission members feel it necessary to review the company's presence in Timika, they should discuss it with the minister of mines and energy, and not with me," he said in response to calls from some House members that the government review Freeport's operating license.

Meanwhile, some 50 Irianese students held a demonstration outside Freeport's Jakarta office, calling on the mining company to accept some of the responsibility for the Timika incident.

The protesters said Freeport had a hand in the incident or, alternatively, knew about the killings but kept silent.

The protest ended peacefully after one hour.

Freeport's public affairs manager, Edward J. Pressman, told reporters that the matter was now in the hands of the National Commission on Human Rights. "I do not want to bypass the Commission. I'll be happy to comment once they have filed their report," Pressman told reporters.

"There's been a lot of misinformation about the facilities that were used," Pressman said in relation to allegations that some of the facilities used by the military in the incident were owned by Freeport.

During the same hearing, Feisal also spoke of the spate of riots in East Timor between Sept. 2 and Sept. 12.

He said the riots had their origins in three unrelated incidents: the announcement of the results of the civil service entrance test, which angered those who were not admitted; remarks by an official that denigrated Roman Catholicism, which is the main religion in East Timor; and the marriage of two people from different churches, which fueled anger among the local people.

He said the three incidents were exploited by some people to stir up the people's anger, leading to the riots in several towns in East Timor.

He said mosques and Protestant churches had been among the targets of destruction during the riots. (rms)

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