Kontras wants consistency on Papua

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) continued to demand on Wednesday that the government be responsible for several policies it has imposed on the troubled Irian Jaya province, in line with its document issued on June 9, 2000.

"Even though Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said that the government had not followed up on the guidelines contained within the document, called the Matoa Document, it (the statement) contradicts the actual situation," Munir, Kontras' chairman of the supervising council told a media conference, referring to the many operations taking place there that have taken the life of civilians.

"Hari's argument that the government had not carried out operations there for financial reasons was unacceptable, as intelligence operations go on. Who funds them anyway?" Munir asked.

As reported earlier, Kontras accused the government of being behind the recent death of Papuan independence leader Theys Hiyo Eluay, saying that the murder was part of a plan to repress rising calls for independence in the province.

The accusation was based on its discovery of a document issued by the directorate general of national integrity and public protection at the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 9 last year.

Following Kontras' accusation, Hari admitted that several officials, including military officers, held a special coordinating meeting at the ministry. The meeting was led by incumbent National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) chairman Ermaya Suradinata.

In the meeting operational guidelines were established, targeting proindependence activists and others considered a threat to the central government due to their stance on independence.

However, he asserted, "the document had nothing to do with Theys' death as the government didn't follow it up due to lack of funds."

Responding to Hari's statement, Munir said that the government had been inconsistent in clarifying the issue. He pointed to a statement made by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who had earlier denied the presence of the document.

The denial, however, was later corrected by Ermaya himself, who admitted that he had signed the document, which "did not specifically reveal any names of groups or individuals considered a threat to central government".

"Which of the statements made by the three state officials is correct?," Munir asked.