Rights body to send team to Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said yesterday it is to send a team to investigate alleged human rights violations during the recent proindependence protests in Irian Jaya.

The rights body's secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa, told non-governmental organization (NGO) activists that the team will be dispatched tomorrow to collect information.

"Once they're are back, we will hold a plenary meeting and then announce the results of our investigation," Lopa said without giving a specific date.

The activists urged the military to show restraint in the province where security forces have clashed with proindependence protesters.

One police intelligence officer was killed and at least 26 people were injured when security officers fired on protesters who were demanding autonomy for Indonesia's easternmost province.

Members of 15 NGOs, which included the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, the Indonesian Forum for Environment, the Volunteers for Humanity and the Solidarity Committee of Irian People (KOSORAI) visited the rights body to complain about reports that the military was persecuting civilians in Irian Jaya.

Willi Sawaki, an organizer of KOSORAI, told the rights body that soldiers had allegedly raided homes and were interrogating suspected protesters.

Proindependence protests have been mounting in Irian Jaya, and also in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor recently.

President B.J. Habibie has pledged democratic reform but has ruled out giving way to separatist demands.

Irian Jaya was ceded to Indonesian in 1963 following a United Nations-sponsored referendum. (byg)