Govt to be stricter against separatism

Govt to be stricter against separatism

JAKARTA (JP): Frustrated with the results of a more tolerant
approach to the separatist movements in Aceh and Irian Jaya, the
government warned on Wednesday it would adopt sterner measures to
restore order in both ends of the archipelago.

Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said at a hearing with the
House of Representatives Commission I for foreign affairs,
defense and security here that he had received calls from many
quarters, including religious leaders, suggesting that the
government should be tougher on separatist elements.

"The government will no longer apply the persuasive approach
in handling mounting separatist activities in the two provinces
because independence movements are in fact a subversion," Mahfud
said.

He added that the government had debated the new policy in
several Cabinet weekly meetings and would issue a presidential
decree to formalize it.

Separately, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and
Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told reporters after
presiding over a limited ministerial meeting that the government
was precipitating the implementation of a special autonomy status
for both Aceh and Irian Jaya, also known as Papua. The latter
will also be divided into several provinces.

"Aceh and Irian Jaya fall under the sovereignty of Indonesia.
Although we are out to maintain law and order there, we have no
intention to push a violent and security-minded approach," Susilo
said.

He also called on foreign countries not to take advantage of
the separatist activities in Indonesia.

Mahfud said that in respect of democracy and human rights, the
government had been lenient toward the Papua problem because a
militaristic or repressive approach was no longer seen as
effective in the search for a comprehensive solution.

"The separatist Free Papua Movement could have been quelled
immediately through a military operation, but it would break the
people's hearts and leave chronic injuries there," he said.

The government, he said, has proven its stiffer stance by
ordering the removal of the Morning Star flag in Irian Jaya,
based on the fact that it has been used a symbol of independence
and has incited the use of violence and intimidation.

At least 30 people, mostly migrant settlers, were killed in
the Irian Jaya town of Wamena when thousands of proindependence
supporters ran amok after police tried to pull down the
separatist flag early this month.

Outgoing Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. Silvanus Yulian
Wenas said that the police have temporarily defy order to begin
pulling down the separatist flags to avoid more bloodshed.

"The risk of possible conflict is too big. But we cannot force
our way to just pull out the flags," Wenas told The Jakarta Post
by phone from Jayapura on Thursday.

"It is obvious that the proindependence supporters and the
Papuan Presidium Council (PDP) seems to ignore government's
ruling. They can get very stubborn and just wouldn't understand.

"So for the time being the flags in Jayapura (at the PDP's
base in Taman Imbi and the house of PDP chairman Theys Eluay) may
still be hoisted but not on the areas where the flags had been
lowered," Wenas said.

Aceh

Minister Mahfud also said the government would likely withdraw
unilaterally from the extended humanitarian pause in Aceh since
the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels group refused to
start talks on peaceful solutions to the problem.

"The government has agreed to extend the humanitarian pause
with the hope that the GAM side is willing to go to the
negotiation table," he said.

He hinted that the government had lost its patience and would
resort to strict measures if GAM failed to show a commitment to
ending the violence and seeking a peaceful solution.

"The talks on a comprehensive solution will never lead to
Aceh's secession from Indonesia. The maximum solution is a
special autonomy for the province," he said.

He said that the government was deeply concerned about the
escalating tension in Aceh over the last three months despite the
humanitarian pause and that it was waiting for "the right time to
impose strict measures against them (GAM rebels)."

He admitted that the government had suffered losses during the
humanitarian pause because the goodwill it had extended to the
people had been betrayed by the GAM side. The latter, he said,
had also misused this goodwill to strengthen its organization,
including its military wing. (rms/edt)