Irian group warned over independence

Irian group warned over independence

JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social
Affairs and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned pro-
independence groups in Irian Jaya on Wednesday that Jakarta would
not tolerate any separatist activities in the country.

"There must not be a single organization in this country, with
its own sovereignty, that may communicate with the world to seek
political support or support for other plans that are strongly
believed to be aimed at seceding from the Republic of Indonesia,"
Susilo said after a meeting with Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri at her office.

The statement came in the wake of Friday's violence between
supporters of the pro-independence Papuan Council and troops in
the hinterland town of Wamena in Irian Jaya.

The clashes between troops and the pro-independence Papua Task
Force erupted after police and soldiers pulled down five
separatist flags.

Angry mobs later ran amok and attacked migrant civilians in
Wamena.

At least 30 people, mostly migrants, were killed in the
incident, while thousands of terrified settlers have since sought
refuge at military and police facilities there.

Susilo said he will report to a Cabinet meeting on Thursday
about the government's current review of its management of Irian
Jaya, saying Jakarta will soon announce clear policies on the
province, including on the pro-independence Papuan Council, its
presidium and the "Morning Star" separatist flag.

He said Jakarta would not hold talks with the presidium "until
the government has a concrete position on how to position the
Papuan Council, and the Presidium of the Papuan Council (PDP)."

He said that while the government had in the past allowed
Irianese to raise the "Morning Star" flag because "it sees it as
a flag that does not reflect political sovereignty ... if it
later becomes distorted and becomes a symbol of sovereignty, of
course this must not be allowed."

Questioning

Separately, Irian Jaya's Police Operation and Control chief
Sr. Supt. Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by telephone from
Jayapura that five members from the Presidium of the Papuan
Council (PDP) had been questioned by police in Wamena Wednesday
night.

"They are being questioned as witnesses, but if further leads
and evidence come up they can become suspects," Kusnadi said.

"So for now they are free to go".

The five questioned were identified as Roberth Komba, Murjono
Murib, Yaveth Yalemakel, Yudas Miage and Amelia Gigibalon.

Earlier in the day National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh
Saaf also indicated that police might question the chief of the
PDP, Theys Hiyo Eluay, in connection with the bloody Wamena
incident.

"We are investigating the link between PDP activities and the
riot as it is a known fact that they are the ones who encouraged
people to hoist the Morning Star flag from the very beginning,"
Saleh remarked.

Saleh further censured the council which it said had changed
course from a forum to bridge Irianese aspirations with the
government under the framework of regional autonomy into
supporters of independence.

"What they did was unlawful. They must be responsible, at
least morally, for the bloody incident," Saleh said, adding that
if necessary, police will disperse the pro-independence Papua
Task Force.

In a bid to restore law and order in the area, police have
given the alleged provocateurs and assailants of the riot until
Monday to surrender.

"After Monday, we will conduct repressive actions and
searches," Saleh said.

"We have identified the rioters and their financial backers,"
he added.

On Wednesday, Theys Eluay visited some of the riot victims who
had been evacuated to hospitals in the provincial capital of
Jayapura, about 290 northeast of Wamena.

"We (the council) feel morally responsible for this incident.
But this wouldn't have happened if police had not used force to
lower the flags," he charged.

"I regret Gus Dur's ambiguity on allowing the people to hoist
the Morning Star flag as long as 'it's smaller in size and lower
in height than the national red-and-white flag'. Gus Dur has been
ignoring the Papua problem," Theys said, adding that he would
soon meet President Abdurrahman to clarify the matter.

Meanwhile, in Wamena, activity began to pick up in the small
town despite the fact that several thousand migrants still feared
leaving the protection of police and security posts where they
have sought shelter since the riot erupted.

"They are still traumatized and terrified of possible renewed
attacks. So, for now, they want to stay at police or military
stations," Kusnadi said.

Kusnadi warned that the outskirts of Wamena were still prone
to unrest as hundreds of Papua Task Force members were using
surrounding villages as bases.

In a move to quell possible riots, Jayawijaya Police have also
seized thousands of sharp weapons from locals in a massive
sweeping operation.

"Most of the weapons were arrows, bows, spears and axes. We
placed a tight surveillance on the access road to Wamena and
searched everyone," Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas
said. (34/edt/byg)