Police detain a suspect in Timika clashes

The Jakarta Post, Papua/Jakarta

Police in Timika, Papua have detained as a suspect, a man identified only as LS and questioned seven others for alleged roles in bloody clashes over the controversial creation of Central Irian Jaya province last week.

Days of bloody clashes have been ongoing sporadically since last Saturday between opponents and supporters of the new province, prompting Jakarta to postpone its own decision indefinitely.

Meanwhile, the death toll in the conflict rose to five after Yulita Takati, who sustained a serious arrow wound to her chest on Wednesday, died in a local hospital on Friday.

At least 104 others, from both sides, were injured in the clashes that mostly ended on Wednesday.

As of Friday, the situation was said to relatively calm. Main roads that had been closed for several days were opened, and schools resumed classes.

Timika police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Paulus Waterpau said LS would be charged with Article 160 of the country's Criminal Code for inciting a riot, which carries a maximum jail sentence of six years.

In Jakarta, Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said Friday that police would remain on alert for possible renewed clashes.

Police have deployed so far two companies of police reinforcements to Timika. They came from Makassar in South Sulawesi, and Jayapura in the northern part of Papua.

Papua police chief Insp. Gen. Budi Utomo met on Friday with the leaders of the two camps in order to open up an opportunity for the two groups to reconcile.

The move would be followed up by the Papua provincial administration which is scheduled to hold a meeting involving religious leaders and local figures to discuss the fate of Jakarta's plan on the establishment of Central Irian Jaya and reconciliation.

Meanwhile, led by Papuan figure Tom Beanal, the one group also appointed Elsham, a Papua-based non-governmental organization dealing with the human rights issues, to file a class action lawsuit against the government and to demand that the central government annul its decision to partition Papua into three provinces -- Papua, Central Irian Jaya and West Irian Jaya.

They were particularly referring to the previously suspended law No. 45/1999 on the establishment of West and Central Irian Jaya provinces, North Maluku, and the creation of Paniai, Mimika, Puncak Jaya and Sorong regencies, as well as Presidential Instruction No. 1/2003 which effectively re-activates Law 45 after it was dormant under the two previous governments due to widespread Papuan discontent on the matter.

"The two regulations are controversial, and create animosity among the people that has led to the death of five Papuans and injuries to more than 100 others.

"The government has to drop the policy to divide Papua because of so much popular opposition here and because it violates the law," Elsham executive director Alosyus Renwarin told reporters, referring to Law No. 21/2001 on the special autonomy status for Papua.

Law No. 21/2001 stipulates that Papua covers what law No. 45 calls Papua, Central Irian Jaya and West Irian Jaya. It also states that any move to divide the province requires prior approval from the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP), the province's highest legislative body consisting of traditional leaders, religious leaders and noted public figures.

The MRP, however, has not been established, allegedly due to foot dragging in Jakarta even though it has been almost two years since the special autonomy status took effect on Jan. 1, 2002.

Separately, Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said in Jakarta that his Ministry would review the regulations on Papua within a month and promised to grant special autonomy even though the province was divided into three smaller provinces.

Yusril asserted that the decision to delay the creation of Central Irian Jaya province did not mean that the government would drop the plan.

"Problems with regard to the regulations come up when the special autonomy law recognizes only one Papua as a whole province, overriding law No. 45/1999.

"But even though we (the government) will divide Papua into three, it doesn't mean that the special autonomy will only be effective in one certain province," Yusril added.