'Rebels to blame for Timika'

JAKARTA (JP): The government says the separatist movement in Irian Jaya is to blame for the recent civilian deaths in the copper mining town of Timika.

Minister of Defense Edi Sudradjat told a hearing with the House of Representatives yesterday that the government is still waiting for the results of an ongoing investigation before it takes action over the killings.

He said that there are "forces, namely a GPK, which have their own flag, commanders and weapons."

"GPK," or Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan (security disturbing movement) is the military shorthand for separatist group.

Edi said members of the movement had been involved in clashes with the Armed Forces and had caused casualties. "As in many guerrilla wars, this movement relies on the local people, so that (conflicts) often cause casualties among civilians," he said. "Bullets don't have eyes," he added.

"The teams from the Armed Forces and the National Commission on Human Rights are still working. Let's wait," he said.

The team sent by the rights commission returned to Jakarta from Timika on Saturday. Its members said they had found evidence that a number of civilians had been killed in Timika.

However, the team said it had not yet determined whether there had been human rights violations in the incident. The commission is scheduled to announce its findings on Friday.

Edi said the authorities are still waiting for the completion of all investigations before making any decision on the establishment of an officers' honor council. "If it's considered necessary, then we'll establish one," he said.

During the hearing, Edi also spoke about the recent rioting in several towns in the province of East Timor, reportedly triggered by religious conflicts, which resulted in the detention of twenty youths.

Police Chief Banurusman Astrosemitro visited the youths yesterday, while the human rights commission is expected to launch an investigation into the unrest today.

Youths in the mainly Roman Catholic province rioted earlier this month after an official reportedly made derogatory remarks about Catholicism.

"What really happened in that province is a process of rapid social (change) the impact of which is shocking (to the people)," Edi said.

East Timor is experiencing "a cultural shock" the side-effects of which have been manipulated by certain political groups, he said.

The main causes of conflicts are fanaticism and narrow- mindedness of certain groups, hypersensitivity toward social inequality and extra-legal approaches, he said.

He suggested that religious propagation be conducted in such a way that will not create "over-fanaticism." He added said that conflicts could be prevented by ensuring a more equitable distribution of the fruits of development and the establishment of social conditions in which every citizen has equal rights and obligations.

During the hearing, Edi also proposed increases of up to 25 percent in his ministry's budget for the 1996-1997 fiscal year.

He said the ministry needs Rp 1.3 trillion for development spending, a 10 percent increase from its current budget, and Rp 5.7 trillion for routine spending, an amount nearly 25 percent than its current budget.

One of the goals for the next fiscal year is the improvement of the welfare of, and professionalism among, soldiers, he said. (swe)