No need for additional troops in Irian: Albert

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Trikora Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Albert Ingkiriwang overseeing Irian Jaya says there is no need to send reinforcements to the province, despite growing calls for separatism.

Albert told journalists on Thursday that the security situation in the province was stable.

"Even if there have been activities involving a lot of people shouting for freedom, none of them have threatened security," he said.

His comments came on the heels of a Papuan People's Congress that asserted the desire for independence.

The government and the House of Representatives have taken a firm stance against the congress, rejecting its call for a separate state of West Papua.

On Wednesday, the Army's Strategic Reserves Commander (Kostrad), Lt. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, suggested the possibility of sending more troops to the restive province to quell separatist operations.

Albert conceded that there had been plenty of activity, particularly during the seven-day congress that ended on Sunday. He maintained, however, there had been no incidents that warranted a security alarm.

He advised the government to listen to what the people in the region were saying before making any hasty decisions.

"There is no need for weapons to deal with the situation in the area," he added.

Separately, political scientist Cornelis Lay from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta also warned against excessive troop deployment in the province.

"Once the government sends in its troops, Papua will be liberated," Cornelis said.

He warned that further troop deployment could work against Indonesia and play toward the sympathy of the international community.

Cornelis said that even though the international community currently acknowledged Irian Jaya as part of Indonesia, it was still possible for the province to gain support for separation.

"Especially now, when political adventurers have no other target after East Timor, the ripest target would be Irian," he warned.

The European Union, meanwhile, reconfirmed Thursday its support for Indonesia's territorial integrity, after the Papuan People's Congress declared that West Papua was not part of Indonesia.

In a statement, the European Union said it "has taken note" of the independence declaration.

"The EU has repeatedly stressed its support for a strong, democratic, united and prosperous Indonesia," the statement said.

"It has also stressed its support for Indonesia's territorial integrity, and for efforts of the current Indonesian government to solve problems, such as Aceh and Irian Jaya, through peaceful negotiation," it said.

The statement added that the European Union was expected to reassert that position at a meeting next Wednesday with Indonesian counterpart Alwi Abdurrahman Shihab.

That meeting in Luxembourg, pencilled into a regular monthly conclave of EU foreign ministers, is intended to "launch the enhanced EU-Indonesian relationship," the statement said.

Previously the United States and Japan flatly rejected the Irian Jayan declaration of independence. (10/44/har/eba)