'Rebels to blame for Timika'

'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)