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)