Police detain a suspect in Timika clashes

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.