Irian independence impossible: Habibie
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)