Irian Jaya, E. Timor issues are over: Govt

Irian Jaya, E. Timor issues are over: Govt

JAKARTA (JP): The government snubbed heightened calls for
independence in the provinces of East Timor and Irian Jaya
yesterday, saying that their inclusion in Indonesia was an
historical fact and unworthy of further discussion.

Their status as an integral part of Indonesia was reasserted
during a limited cabinet meeting on political and security
affairs.

"The Act of Free Choice, held in 1962 under United Nations'
supervision, which resulted in the return of Irian Jaya into
Indonesian hands was valid and internationally recognized,"
Secretary to the Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security R. Karyono read out in the statement.

"East Timor was integrated into Indonesia after the local
people there issued a declaration of commitment in 1976," it
added.

Yesterday's statement demonstrated that despite the greater
sense of freedom to air criticism since the new government came
to power, certain issues still remain untouchable.

East Timor, which has remained a hotbed of separatism since
its integration to Indonesia in 1976, has seen an escalation of
pro-independence rallies over the past two months.

President B.J. Habibie has proposed that the former Portuguese
colony by given special autonomous status.

In Irian Jaya, apparent disgruntlement has risen to the fore
as public rallies have begun to assert a desire for separation.

However the ministerial meeting yesterday shut the door on any
suggestions of provinces breaking away.

The ministers insinuated that the recent exodus of migrants
from East Timor was sparked by the activities of an East Timorese
group intent on creating fear and anxiety in the province.

"We conclude that all rights violations in East Timor were
committed by that group," the statement said.

Among the ministers present at yesterday's meeting were
Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen.
(ret.) Feisal Tanjung, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid,
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Defense and
Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto, Minister of Justice
Muladi, National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi and chief of
the State Intelligence Coordinating Agency (Bakin) Moetojib.

The clamor for independence and concern over human rights
violations in Irian Jaya continued here yesterday as about 100
students held a noisy four hour demonstration in front of the
United Nations building in Central Jakarta.

They handed a petition to Ravi Rajan, the UN's resident
representative here, which he promised that it would immediately
be delivered to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Meanwhile an alliance of 14 non-governmental organizations
yesterday condemned the Armed Forces' repressive actions in
handling recent demonstrations in Irian Jaya.

In a meeting with the House of Representatives' (DPR) Armed
Forces faction, Eliakim Sitorus, spokesman for the group, said
these violations were intolerable.

The NGOs included the Institute for Policy Research and
Advocacy (ELSAM), the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Institute (YLBHI), the Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) and
the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID).

In a related development, Steven Suripatty, who was shot in
the head by soldiers when they cracked down on a Cenderawasih
University student rally in Jayapura on July 3, died on Monday
night. (imn/mds/rms)