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)