Rights abuses 'fed' separatism in Irian Jaya

Rights abuses 'fed' separatism in Irian Jaya

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): State Minister of Human Rights
Hasballah M. Saad says unsolved human rights abuse cases in some
areas of the country could incite separatist movements.

Speaking here on Wednesday upon departure for Jakarta
following a two-day visit collecting firsthand information on
past rights violations, Hasballah said people would suspect the
government of masterminding human rights abuses if it failed to
quickly and fairly settle them.

"That would in turn provoke the people to query what
maintaining the unity of the republic is for, if human rights are
not respected. This circumstance could encourage people to fight
for an independent state," he said.

"Therefore, the protection and promotion of human rights in
the Republic of Indonesia is a must if justice is to prevail."

The Aceh-born minister, who arrived here on Wednesday, met
with government officials, religious and tribal leaders and non-
governmental organization activists.

"Rights violations are sources of both vertical and horizontal
riots in the country," he said.

Violence in Irian Jaya and Aceh has been primarily between
civilians and security personnel, while in Ambon and Sambas in
West Kalimantan the conflicts have been among civilians.

"It is imperative that human rights be protected and promoted
to stop such deadly violence," Hasballah said.

He said his office would join hands with NGOs, universities
and religious institutions to cultivate human rights, while
cooperation with law-enforcers would be enhanced to uphold human
rights.

He said his office planned to set up a Center for Human Rights
Studies and Advocacy at 10 universities in provinces where rights
abuses are still rampant. Among the universities are those in
Aceh, Maluku, Irian Jaya, East Java and Nusa Tenggara.

Detailed talks with the national education minister would be
held soon, he said.

Reports

Rev. Herman Awom, deputy chairman of the Evangelical Christian
Church (GKI), told the minister that rights abuses in West Papua,
as locals call Irian Jaya, dated back to 1961 when former
president Sukarno launched the popular Three Peoples Commands
(Trikora) campaign aimed at seizing the territory from the Dutch
colonial powers.

According to Awom, the Papuans were not involved in the
discussions prior to and during the drafting of the United
Nations-sponsored New York Agreement which endorsed a plebiscite
on the future of West Papua in 1969.

Rights abuses reached a peak during the so-called Military
Operation Region (DOM). "Many Papuans were intimidated, tortured
and killed. Many women were raped by security personnel," Awom
said.

"If you want the evidence, we are ready to show you the mass
graves," he said.

Nataniel Kaiway, the speaker of the provincial legislature,
explained details to Hasballah of the Biak tragedy in 1998, the
killings in Mapmnduma in 1996 and a manslaughter in Manokwari
last September.

Many Irianese figures have demanded the government take legal
action against those involved in rights violations. They have
said they have lost trust in the Indonesian government, whom they
accuse of lacking the desire to fulfill their demand.

Brig. Gen. Idris Gassing, the Trikora Military Command chief
of staff, also met with the minister. He denied the reported
rights abuses, saying the security personnel had to use force to
defend themselves. (eba)