Papuans push for freedom

Papuans push for freedom

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Delegates to the ongoing Papuan
Congress called for a declaration of independence on Thursday,
defying Jakarta's stern warning that their action amounts to a
violation of the constitution.

Although the congress is not due to wind up until Saturday, it
is clear that the meeting of some 3,000 people has turned into a
show of force for supporters of an independent West Papua state
outside the Indonesian republic.

West Papua is the name by which local people now call their
territory.

Officially, the territory is still called Irian Jaya, the name
used since its incorporation into Indonesia in 1963, although
President Abdurrahman Wahid had approved the name change.

On Wednesday, officials in Jakarta issued harsh warnings to
participants in the congress against using the forum to drum up
support for an independent state.

In separate comments, Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak
and Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab reproached the
congress organizers for breaking their promise not to use the
meeting to discuss the idea of a separate West Papua state.

Alwi went as far as saying that the government would do
whatever was necessary to prevent the separation of Irian Jaya.

Marsilam said the claim by the congress to represent the West
Papua people is questionable because those who support
integration with Indonesia have been excluded.

"We consider the Papuan People's Congress a failure," he told
reporters after a Cabinet meeting.

He also chided the gathering for including foreigners.

He said the organizing committee had earlier promised the
government that the congress was only for locals and that the
focus would be on Irian Jaya remaining part of Indonesia.

Alwi said his office would seek an investigation of the
presence of foreigners in the congress.

"They have come under the names of non-governmental
organizations (NGOs). Most are from Papua New Guinea and
Australia," Alwi told reporters.

"We will investigate first and if there are indications (of
impropriety), we will take stern measures," he said.

The government will not hesitate to take all necessary action
if the Congress goes beyond the limits agreed upon by the
congress committee, he said.

"If they declare independence, we are going to be very
concerned because it is against the constitution," he said.

Responding to the warnings from Jakarta, Agus Alua, who chairs
the congress organizing committee, said on Thursday that the
delegations were simply exercising their democratic right to
express their aspirations.

"The aspirations of independence should be seen as freedom of
expression in a democratic way," Agus argued.

Delegations from 13 regencies, youth, student and scholar
organizations, tribal leaders and Papuan community living abroad,
including Papua New Guinea, are taking part in the congress.

Tom Beanal, the chairman of Papua Presidium, said many of the
foreign participants were actually Papuans who lived abroad.

He said foreign participations in the congress were limited.

While delegates were unanimous in demanding independence, they
were divided on how to achieve that goal. But delegates said this
was in the spirit of democracy.

"The people have never been allowed to speak openly. Today,
they begin enjoying democracy," Herman Awom, a member of Papuan
Presidium Council, said.

"It is the first time the people of West Papua have been
allowed to speak. All the people talk and it is good," John
Mambor, another member of the presidium council, said.

Mambor, who spent seven years in prison and four years of
exile in the jungle, heads a group representing former prisoners
and political detainees at the Congress.

He demanded that the Congress draw up an independence
statement. (eba/jun/prb/dja)