Military status lifted from Irian

Military status lifted from Irian

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen.
Wiranto decided on Thursday to lift the status of military
operation zone (DOM) from the country's easternmost province, a
senior military officer said on Friday.

Trikora Regional Military Commander Amir Sembiring said ABRI
would no longer focus on fighting separatists in Irian Jaya but
help people in the interior improve their living conditions.

Sembiring promised to withdraw combat troops from the province
but added that some such forces who were directly under his
command would be retained temporarily due to the province's vast
size.

"The military operation status has been revoked and our
activities will be shifted to safeguard vulnerable areas,"
Sembiring was quoted by Antara as saying.

ABRI imposed DOM status on three provinces -- Aceh, East Timor
and Irian Jaya -- to facilitate the suppression of separatism.

Sembiring said 300 combat troops had been pulled out from
Timika as tension in the area had dissipated.

At least one person was shot dead, 40 injured and 400 others
arrested when a series of student-led demonstrations in the Irian
Jaya towns of Jayapura, Sorong and Biak turned into bloody riots
in July.

Sembiring said soldiers to be sent to Irian Jaya in the future
would be armed with agricultural equipment, seeds for planting
and livestock, instead of weapons. (prb)