Military welcome Papuan rights body

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The National Commission on Human Rights' (Komnas HAM) plan to open a branch office here has received support, including from military authorities.

Irian Jaya Military commander Maj. Gen. Albert Ingkiriwang said over the weekend he had met with the Institute for Human Rights Studies and Advocacy (IHRSTAD) over the matter.

"I have urged Albert Hasibuan to realize the plan at once," he said, referring to the commission's secretary general. "We welcome the idea. For us, the quicker the better."

IHRSTAD executive director Johanes Bonay said the institute was ready to support the plan. "A branch office of Komnas HAM is badly needed to uphold the supremacy of the law here," Johanes said.

Three main churches in Irian Jaya -- the Roman Catholic Church of Jayapura diocese, the Evangelical Christian Church (GKI) and the Indonesian Bible Camp Church (GKII) -- have also expressed their full support for the proposal. (eba)