President changes Irian Jaya's name to Papua

President changes Irian Jaya's name to Papua

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid not only rang in the new millennium here but also declared that Indonesia's easternmost province would now be called Papua.

"I officially announce that the name Irian becomes Papua," he said here on Friday.

He claimed that his decision to change the name was not due to pressure, despite calls from several community leaders, but because the term "Irian" in Arabic had a negative connotation and meant naked.

"With the change, Irian Jaya province becomes Papua province," he said, after which he immediately began to refer to it as Papua.

In his address to tribal and community leaders here he also apologized for past human rights abuses throughout the country.

However, he asserted that the government would not condone attempts to set up a new country within the existing Indonesia.

In the meeting with local administration officials and 400 religious leaders and representatives of Irianese tribespeople, Abdurrahman said he, however, appreciated freedom of expression.

"I guarantee freedom of expression. So I accept the Irianese demand for independence as a freedom of expression. But I won't tolerate any efforts to establish a country within the country," he said.

He reiterated that as a president his duty was to maintain Indonesia's integrity as stipulated by the 1945 Constitution.

Demands for independence voiced by some Irianese should be conveyed to the People's Consultative Assembly. "It is the Assembly that has the right to decide on that."

Abdurrahman, who was in the province to watch the first dawn of the new millennium in Indonesia, also took time on Saturday to sign the Third Millennium postal stamp.

In Friday's dialog, the President pointed out that some people wanted independence and others wanted to remain within the republic. "So which one of you represent the (Papua) people?" he asked.

He stressed that the integrity of the nation must be maintained. He also warned foreign countries not to support any movements that could lead to Indonesia's disintegration.

"The government of Indonesia will not hesitate to confront any country which is behind the Free Papua Movement (OPM) or other separatist groups in other regions."

Many more discussions are needed to deal with the complicated problems, he said. "The government is even ready to talk with the OPM, despite the fact that its members have many times committed unlawful acts."

A Timika tribal leader, Tom Beanal, thanked the President for the release of political prisoners, several of whom were Papuans. "This is a Christmas gift from the President."

He reported that Papuans had suffered much under Indonesian rule.

"We have been victims of injustice, such as intimidation, torture, rape, killings and discrimination," Tom said.

"The root of all of this is the distortion of history of West Papua in terms of political status. The (government's) development policies have also neglected the (Papuan) people's interests." (eba)