Government 'to get tough with Papuans'

Government 'to get tough with Papuans'

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid and Indonesian
Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. have pledged to take stern
measures against the Irianese for declaring independence, House
of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Sunday.

Speaking during a visit to Pangkalpinang, South Sumatra, Akbar
said the House would support every means sought by the government
to maintain the state's unity, Antara reported.

"I have phoned Gus Dur and asked him not to hesitate in taking
strict action to keep the country's territorial integrity," Akbar
said referring to Abdurrahman's popular nickname.

Akbar said the President as the head of state is mandated to
uphold the 1945 Constitution and to defend the unitary state of
Indonesia.

"If the independence demand remains a discourse, it's okay.
But if it is followed by action, the TNI chief will take stern
measures," Akbar said.

Akbar said Abdurrahman had spoken to the American, Dutch,
British and Australian ambassadors about the government's
commitment to maintaining Indonesia's territorial unity.

Akbar blamed the government's failure to quickly address the
growing disappointment among people in the easternmost province
for the growing independence demand.

Constitutional law expert from Bandung-based Padjadjaran
University Sri Sumantri labeled the independence declaration a
separatist movement.

TNI is entitled to take action against it, he said.

"The integration of Irian into Indonesia in 1963 is
acknowledged by the United Nations, so don't be afraid about the
government not obtaining international support," he said.

He quickly added that the secession mood had escalated due to
Jakarta's exploitation of the province's natural resources
without improving the social welfare of the Irianese people.

He said the government should take the independence demand in
Irian Jaya as a costly lesson to avoid similar mistakes in the
future.

Politicians were unperturbed by the news from Jayapura,
describing it as a mere political maneuver to gain greater
government consideration over the province's fate.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post over the weekend, legislator
Effendy Choiri of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Burhan
Djabir Magenda of the Golkar Party expressed guarded confidence
that the concluded congress was a passing phenomenon that would
not lead to actual separation.

"This (the declaration) was a maneuver to gain more serious
attention from the central government," Effendy said.

He said the declaration did not represent the real wishes of
the Papuan people, because, although they asked for freedom, they
also asked the central government for various things.

"They said they wanted freedom, but they also urged the
central government to deal with problems in the region, in line
with their demands," he remarked.

"I bet they are quite concerned about the reality that the
international community would not recognize West Papua nor agree
to the presence of an international contingent, which might
infringe upon the territorial integrity of Indonesia," he said.

Burhan said Irian Jaya shared no similarities with East Timor
and its separatists were even less dangerous than those in Aceh.

"The Papuan separatist movement is very small and we
(Indonesia) have international support," he remarked.

"If we can handle the separatist movement in Aceh, this should
be more easy to cope with, because, physically, they are not a
threat."

He said that the fact remained that the international
community recognized the territory as an Indonesian province.

Political observer and columnist Soedjati Jiwandono however
said Papuans had a right to choose independence if they wished.

"Unity is something that you cannot force and everybody should
have the right to determine what they want, including the right
to be free," Soedjati said.

He said ultimately unity should bring prosperity to the
people, and thus it might be better if Indonesia split into three
or four prosperous countries, rather than forcing a single unity
that is not thriving and costing the people even more.

To solve these problems, the government should first establish
a mechanism similar to a self-determination ballot and provide
choices for the Papuans.

"We should stop offering them regional autonomy, but give them
a real choice to be free," he added. (25/bby/dja/jun)