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)