Irianese call for dialog with Gus Dur and Megawati
Irianese call for dialog with Gus Dur and Megawati
JAKARTA (JP): A group of Irianese in Timika, Irian Jaya, are
willing to lower the Morning Star separatist rebel flag if
President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri grant their demand for face-to-face talks.
A staff member at the Amungme Tribal Custom Institute, who
identified himself as Elias, told The Jakarta Post by telephone
from Timika on Monday that the flag was still flying in the yard
of the Three Kings Catholic Church there. It was hoisted last
Wednesday.
"We will not lower the flag until President Abdurrahman, Vice
President Megawati, People's Consultative Assembly chairman Amien
Rais and House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung arrive
here for talks with us," Elias said.
Scores of Irianese are staying in tents near the flag, under
the watchful eyes of security troops. The protesters are eating
sweet potatoes and other traditional staple foods to survive.
In a statement which was made available to The Jakarta Post
over the weekend, the Irianese also demanded that United Nations
Secretary-General Kofi Annan pressure the Indonesian government
to settle the Irian Jaya case peacefully and wisely.
They also demanded the Indonesian Military (TNI) withdraw all
combat troops from the province.
"Their presence has brought about many human right abuses
during the last 36 years of integration with Indonesia. They have
slaughtered, tortured, beaten and arbitrarily arrested many
Papuans, and raped Papuan women," they said.
Meanwhile, Aloysius Renwarin, a staffer at the Jayapura-based
Institution for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD) told
the Post from Jayapura on Monday that four members of the
provincial legislative council had left for Timika to hold a
dialog with the demonstrators.
"The people in Timika have vowed not to allow the legislators
to return to Jayapura, until Abdurrahman, Megawati, Amien and
Akbar arrive at Timika and meet with them," Renwarin said.
No violence has been reported so far. Schools, government
offices, private companies and public markets are running as
usual. Public transportation also remains unaffected. (eba)