Papuan Council chiefs take conciliatory steps
JAKARTA (JP): Police said that the Presidium of the Papuan Council (PDP) on Friday has begun to take conciliatory steps following the government's decision to crackdown on pro- independence forces in Irian Jaya.
"The PDP in Wamena has announced seven points on last weeks bloody incident (in Wamena) which basically states their wish to support legal action against the perpetrators of the Oct. 6 fray," Irian Jaya Police Operation and Control chief Sr. Supt. M. Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone from Jayapura.
A total of 35 suspects, mostly pro-independence supporters from the Satgas Papua task force, have been detained in relation with the riot in Wamena.
"They also promised not to repeat their wrongdoing and to no longer threaten the migrants. Members of Satgas Papua have gradually retreated to the jungles but we are still tightly monitoring the situation," he said.
According to Kusnadi, authorities are also proactively conducting routine patrols around migrant settlers to avoid possible disputes.
"By the end of this month we hope there are no longer activities such as hoisting the separatist flag...(But) we're still anticipating the possibility of a dispute ahead of Dec. 1 since that was the PDP's planned date to declare Irian's independence".
"Basically there is still a latent danger from this separatist movement, especially since they fled into the jungle," the officer added.
Military and police sources have said that Wamena is known as the biggest base camp of the Papua taskforce. Unofficial estimates put their total number at up to 10,000.
The town of Wamena was engulfed in a bloody riot last week after security forces pulled down the separatist Morning Star flag.
At least 30, mostly migrant settlers, were killed in the bloody fracas in Wamena, located some 290 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital of Jayapura.
Thousands of migrants have fled their homes and are seeking shelter at military and police posts.
It is also reported that some 45,000 students from elementary to secondary schools have been abandoned since most of their teachers have fled the regency.
Antara reported on Friday that as a result the quarterly examination has been postponed.
In Bandung, Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Indonesia Taricius Eri stressed on Friday that his country would not interfere with the problems in Irian Jaya.
"The upheaval in Irian Jaya will not affect the relations between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia," Eri said on the sidelines of a joint border committee meeting between officials of the two countries.(25/edt)