Irian Jaya, E. Timor different: Downer
JAKARTA (JP): Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer maintained yesterday that the problems surrounding Irian Jaya could not be paralleled to the issue of East Timor.
"It's a vast leap of logic to suggest that the unfortunate incidents and political environment in Irian Jaya have the same political environment as East Timor. I don't think you could automatically draw that conclusion," he said in response to questions at a news briefing here yesterday.
He pointed out that the socioeconomic structure and history of Irian Jaya was quite different from East Timor.
The two provinces were recently rocked by proindependence demonstrations and riots.
A clash between student demonstrators and security forces in Jayapura, Irian Jaya, on Friday resulted in the death of one intelligence officer and left two students in critical condition after being shot.
A week earlier in East Timor, one man was shot dead when a mob attacked a van of security officers who were accompanying a European Union delegation.
Downer said that in his meeting with President B.J. Habibie earlier yesterday he had expressed Australia's deep concern over the recent shooting incidents in both provinces.
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as Indonesia's 27th province in 1976. The United Nations, however, does not recognize it.
Australia has officially recognized the integration.
A small group of separatists on the tiny province continues to survive, while abroad there is an active East Timor lobby.
Irian Jaya on the other hand has not been an international issue as Dutch colonial forces handed the territory to Indonesia in 1963 following a UN referendum.
However, a small band of separatists called the Free Papua Movement continues to roam the area.
Dialog
Downer hailed yesterday new steps taken by the Indonesian government to help solve the East Timor issue, saying they were in line with his country's policies.
He said he felt that Habibie was committed to keeping his pledge for special autonomy status and a gradual pullout of troops from East Timor.
"Australia has called for a long time ... that the military presence in East Timor should be reduced and there be a greater degree of autonomy in East Timor," he said.
He said Australia also advocated the principle of "the people of East Timor having a greater say in their own affairs", and for better respect of human rights.
"The President clearly has a commitment to do those things, and in particular he discussed with me his meeting with Bishop Belo, and regarded that meeting with Belo ... as a very important step forward," he said, referring to the recent meeting between Habibie and Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.
He said Australia would continue to provide financial assistance to the province and to the rest of the country.
"We have provided East Timor A$38 million in financial assistance and plan to send an additional $24 million," he said.
Australia has also granted financial aid to Irian Jaya, East and West Nusa Tenggara and Kalimantan, which were facing food shortages because of a prolonged drought in the region.
Downer, who arrived here Wednesday for a three-day visit, is scheduled to meet with Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto today before leaving for home this evening. (rms)