Irian independence impossible: Habibie

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie told his Cabinet on Monday there was a group of people in Irian Jaya who misunderstood his recent statement on the possibility of independence for the province.

The President confirmed he recently advised Irianese leaders to reconsider their demands for separation from Indonesia. He hinted that what he actually meant was that the government would not tolerate any separatist movements.

"They (Irianese leaders) said they had considered the issue... and that their conclusion was that they wanted independence," Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus said when briefing journalists on the results of a six-hour Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential palace.

On Feb. 26, Habibie met with a group of Irianese leaders, including tribal chiefs, outspoken independence leader Tom Beanal and Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numbery.

The President asked the leaders "to reconsider and think about the consequences (of independence) because abundant natural resources alone are not a sufficient guarantee for the future".

Habibie reiterated on Monday that Irian Jaya was an integral part of Indonesia and the government would firmly crack down on any separatist activities.

"They (separatists) will face the full forces of the nation," he said.

On the basis of a United Nations-sponsored agreement between the Netherlands, the former colonial power of Irian Jaya, and Indonesia, West Irian became part of Indonesia in May 1963. Ten years later, then president Soeharto renamed the province Irian Jaya (Glorious Irian).

The 421,981-square-kilometer province is three and a half times the size of Java. Statistics from 1995 showed the population of the province was about two million.

The government will divide Irian Jaya into three provinces and Maluku into two provinces after the general election in June.

According to Yunus, the Ministry of Home Affairs will begin drafting a bill on the division of the provinces on Wednesday and plans to complete the draft by the end of the month.

It is possible Irian Jaya will hold a local election to elect local legislatures, he said.

"The plan's realization is expected after the elections," Yunus said.

Before the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, Feisal Tanjung, said the division of both Irian Jaya and Maluku will have to take place either before or after elections.

But if they were divided after the June elections Feisal said a local poll should take place to establish the local legislatures. (prb)