Megawati delayed Irian jaya trip

Megawati delayed Irian jaya trip

Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri postponed indefinitely on
Thursday her visit to the restive province of Irian Jaya, pending
the implementation of central government policies there,
including the establishment of an independent team to investigate
the mysterious death of prominent independence leader Theys Hiyo
Eluay.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the press here on Thursday that the
delay had nothing to do with the worsening security condition in
the province but was "due to heightened political tension there
following mounting rejection of the implementation of special
autonomy status and the demand for a thorough investigation into
Theys' death.

"The Indonesian Military chief (Adm. Widodo A.S.) and the
National Police chief (Gen. Da'i Bachtiar) have told the
President that the security situation remains calm in Irian Jaya.
But the President believes that the most important thing for the
central government is to carry out its commitments to Irian
Jaya," Susilo said after a meeting with Megawati at her residence
on Jl. Teuku Umar.

Prior to the meeting, Susilo held a meeting with related
ministers at his office.

Megawati initially planned to visit Irian Jaya on Saturday to
attend Christmas celebrations and hand over officially the
special autonomy law. According to Susilo, the visit was in
response to an invitation from Irian Jaya governor Jaap Salosa
and other local officials.

"We (the government) are committed to promoting special
autonomy status for the province and establishing an independent
team to investigate the death of Pak Theys. We are going to carry
these out in the very near future," Susilo asserted.

Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said that ministers under Susilo's coordination had
proposed several dates for Megawati to visit Papua.

"We proposed several points for consideration and dates for
Ibu to visit Papua," he said, adding that the dates mooted
included Dec. 25, 26 and 27.

"The President said she would consider the options and decide
the matter soon, looking at the situation in the province. We
will determine the schedule together," he added.