President cancels plan to open Papua Congress
President cancels plan to open Papua Congress
JAKARTA (JP): Presidential aides confirmed here on Saturday
that President Abdurrahman Wahid has canceled plans to open
Monday's Papua Congress in Jayapura, over fears that his presence
would be interpreted as tacit support for the province's
independence.
Acting State Secretary Bondan Gunawan said the president's
decision was based on the advice of Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri who feared the political fallout if the president
attended the congress.
But, according to Bondan, the president did order provincial
officials to attend the congress.
"If the president attends the event, it can be interpreted as
tacit support for the Papuans' separatist ambitions," Bondan said
after a meeting with Abdurrahman and a group of visiting Irian
leaders at Merdeka Palace.
The 20-member group was led by Bernardus Mawen, a self-
promoted general in supreme command of the so called West Papua
Liberation Army.
As an expression of his sympathy for participants of the
congress, the president donated Rp 1 billion, or one third of the
total money needed to finance the meeting, Bondan noted.
"The donation has already been misrepresented as the
president's symbolic support for the struggle to become an
independent state," Bondan said.
Bondan, who is also secretary of government supervision said,
the president's plan was discussed by the Cabinet on Wednesday.
The vice president, who has just completed a five-day tour of
Irian Jaya, recommended Abdurrahman avoid the congress.
Abdurrahman had previously told Bernardus that he was ready to
open the congress, which is scheduled to be attended by about
5,000 participants from across the province.
During Saturday's meeting, Abdurrahman also assured Bernardus
that the government would not interfere with the congress if the
meeting was focussed solely on voicing their aspirations.
"However, if they truly commit themselves to concrete
separatist actions, the government will take stern measures
against the struggle," Bondan remarked.
According to Bondan, Bernardus pledged that his organization
would refrain for now from committing any significant actions.
Separately, Bernardus said he bluntly told the president his
request to Indonesia was very simple, and hoped that Indonesia
would also give simple answer.
"We just want to regain our independence," Bernardus said.
Meanwhile thousands of Irianese people have arrived in
Jayapura for the congress. They have come from the regencies of
Fakfak, Sorong, Monokwari, Nabire, Paniai, Puncak Jaya and Yapen
Waropen and Merauke.
The separatist Morning Star flag dominated the city. And about
1,000 West Papuan Task Force members patrolled the city,
especially Cendrawasih Sport Hall, the congress venue, as part of
its mission to safeguard the congress,
News of Abdurrahman's cancellation did not reach the city
until late Saturday afternoon where people were still
anticipating the president's arrival.
Agus Alua, the congress' organizing committee chairman, was
still hopeful that both Abdurrahman and People's Consultative
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais would be able to accept the
invitation to attend the congress.
On another subject, palace officials revealed that Abdurrahman
was going on Saturday evening for a night's stay in the Thousand
Islands, just north of Jakarta Bay.
No one would reveal the purpose of the stay which is being
described as a private weekend tour for the first family.
The President spent Saturday night aboard the Naval warship
KRI Arun. They are scheduled to return to Jakarta Sunday
afternoon.
"It is a private visit, we don't precisely know his schedule
there," a Palace official said when asked about the visit.
Abdurrahman is not known as someone who particularly enjoys
the great outdoors or spending weekends fishing like former
President Soeharto, who often went angling in the Thousand
Islands.
Abdurrahman is better known to prefer a good joke or
conversation for his relaxation. (eba/prb)