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"The military operation status has been revoked and our activities will be shifted to safeguard vulnerable areas," Sembiring was quoted by Antara as saying.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