Irian independence call 'not unanimous'
Irian independence call 'not unanimous'
JAKARTA (JP): Some Irian Jaya religious and community leaders
have assured the Armed Forces (ABRI) that not all Irianese want
to be independent, but merely want the military to improve its
record and punish errant soldiers.
In a meeting with Trikora Regional Military Commander Maj.
Gen. Amir Sembiring in the easternmost province's capital,
Jayapura, Tuesday, the community leaders rejected the recent
claim of a group of people that they represented all Irianese in
campaigning for the establishment of an independent West Papuan
state.
David Woisiri, one of the invited leaders, was quoted by
Antara as saying how the fight for independence from the Dutch 35
years ago should not be tarnished with "acts of betrayal" such as
the hoisting by some people of the West Papuan flag.
Other leaders from Manokwari, Mimika, Fakfak, Merauke and
Jayawijaya concurred.
Pro-independence activists in Wamena, Jayapura, Biak and
Sorong recently demonstrated their aspirations by rallying with
the flags. Some of the demonstrations in July degenerated into
clashes and violence, with a number of people being killed and
injured.
While pledging loyalty toward Indonesia, the community leaders
also urged ABRI to do its share by taking firm action against its
members who had acted in an arbitrary manner toward the people.
They cited, as an example, ABRI personnel who had robbed
people's timber and other forest products. Amir promised to deal
with the perpetrators.
Amir also said that the strength of the security disturbance
group (GPK) -- a term used by the military to describe those
campaigning for secession, sometimes through armed rebellion --
in Irian Jaya was no longer significant.
Amir said it would be impossible for the group to take control
of the region and secede from the rest of the country.
"Their number is small and so is the number of their weapons
while Irian Jaya is a vast region so it would be very difficult
for them to realize their plan," he said.
He said the local command's operations had been switched to
territorial duties so that members of the Armed Forces were no
longer assigned to crush the GPK.
The switch was made to avoid a recurrence of human rights
violations, he said.
Amir also expressed his readiness to meet with GPK leaders
still roaming the province.
"I am ready to hold a dialog with Kelly Kwalik, Daniel Kogoya
and others at an agreed place," he said, promising he would not
arrest them in case the dialog failed, and would let them return
to their jungle bases. (swe)