Irian-PNG border remains tense after rebel attack
JAKARTA (JP): The situation remained tense in parts of Irian Jaya on Sunday after at least one person was killed in an attack by separatist rebels on a logging camp in Skouw village, some two kilometers from the border of Papua New Guinea.
Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S. Y. Wenas confirmed the Saturday morning attack.
"The details of the attack is not known yet. The Army, who guards the border, probably know more about it," Wenas said.
Antara identified the fatality as Sakaria, a worker at the camp. Two fellow workers Sukardi, 40 and Murdianto, 21, were injured.
None of the assailants have been apprehended as of Sunday evening.
The attack followed a riot in Abepura on Thursday in which at least three people, including two policemen, were killed and four officers injured when some 100 armed rioters attacked a police station.
The attackers, armed with handmade rifles, arrows, swords and machetes, ransacked shops, homes and restaurants on their way to the station.
The attackers were suspected to be militia from the Free Papua Organization (OPM) and another rebel group called the Koteka task force.
Following Thursday's incident, police detained 99 people, mostly students from the Nayak and Ninmim dormitories in Jayawijaya for their alleged involvement in the fatal assault.
The situation in the easternmost province has remained tense after the unrecognized Dec. 1 independence commemoration.
At least ten people have died in a series of violent outbreaks since Dec. 2.
Release
Separately several human rights activists echoed support for President Abdurrahman Wahid's call for Irian Jaya proindependence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay's release to avoid more bloodshed in the province.
Expressions of regret have also been voiced in response to the President's call, over worries of the consequences of his intervention of the investigation into Theys and the encouragement given to separatist sentiments in Irian Jaya.
Coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) Munarwan said Abdurrahman has met with huge resistance within his government in dealing with the Irian Jaya issue.
"The present government has made no progress in terms of human rights protection due to Gus Dur's inability to control the old institutions and regime in his administration, which are trying to preserve their political domination," Munarwan said on Saturday.
Despite Abdurrahman's call, Theys remains in detention on subversion charges. The police claim that this is in the interest of the investigation into the Irianese rebel leader.
Abdul Hakim Garuda Nusantara of the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM) said it was necessary to detain Theys and four other Irian Jaya proindependence leaders.
"According to the Criminal Code procedures, detention is based more on necessity," Abdul Hakim told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
"Theys has not yet been convicted. He has only been named a suspect. His rights are protected by the law," Abdul Hakim said, adding that Theys should be presumed innocent.
Abdul Hakim suggested that non-governmental organizations and the National Commission on Human Rights be involved to bridge differences between the President and his security ministers, so that the government could settle Irian problem through dialog.
But sociologist Imam Prasodjo said Abdurrahman's request to release Theys was a form of political intervention into the legal process, which could backfire on the government's bid to keep the province a part of the republic.
"Nobody can guarantee that after Theys is released, the dialog would take place and bear fruit," Imam said.
According to Imam, the dispute between the President and his security ministers would boost the self-confidence of the proindependence supporters in Irian Jaya. (02/edt/hdn)