Gen. Feisal admits Timika deaths involved 'error'

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)

Timor -- Page 2