Sun, 03 Dec 2000

Six people killed in Irian Jaya proindependence demonstration

By Emmy Fitri

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Police fired upon proindependence supporters on Saturday in the town of Merauke, some 690 kilometers south of Jayapura, killing at least six people after an independence rally that reportedly turned violent.

Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. Sylvanus Y. Wenas confirmed the incident, saying that the six killed were members of the separatist Papuan task force.

According to Wenas, the incident occurred among a gathering of 500 people from the Muyu tribe who came to the town's park on Saturday morning to commemorate the failed Dec. 1, 1961 declaration of independence for West Papua.

He said they did not seem satisfied with Friday's commemoration at the same location, during which they were prohibited to hoist the separatist Bintang Kejora (Morning Star) flag.

"At around 7 a.m., they hoisted the flag, but local administration officials came and explained to them that in Merauke the flag may not be hoisted.

"The Muyu people agreed with the explanation and lowered it at 9 a.m. When the flag was lowered and the procession finished, around 200 members of the Papuan task force then came on the scene and began disrupting public order," Wenas said.

Then in front of the Merauke Tourism Agency they lowered the Indonesian red-and-white flag and ripped it apart as a show of hostility.

Wenas claimed that, armed with traditional bows and arrows, the task force members then assaulted migrant settlers.

He further claimed that police, who arrived at the scene to disperse the group, were forced to fire at the rioters as their lives were in danger.

"The violence was unavoidable, we had to take stern measures as they violated the agreement made by the Papuan Presidium Council and the provincial administration," Wenas said.

Based on the agreement, the separatist group is only allowed to hoist the flag in five regencies, namely Jayapura, Fakfak, Manokwari, Serui and Jayawijaya.

According to Wenas two migrants from Java also died in the confusion due to slash wounds.

The latest incident raises the death toll surrounding the Dec. 1 commemorations to 10 people.

Earlier on Friday, two people were killed in Brongkendik village, Fakfak district.

The incident began when a crowd from Timika, Mimika regency, attacked and destroyed the Air Besar swimming pool in East Fakfak district, Antara reported.

Following the incident, Fakfak Police declared 70 members of the Papuan task force fugitives for attacking policemen in Fakfak.

Fakfak Police chief Supt. Totok Kasmiarto told Antara on Saturday that on Friday afternoon 70 members of the Papuan task force, led by Apolos Krimpul, attacked two teams of policemen in Brongkendik village.

The police fought back, resulting in the death of two people while several others were injured.

Police have been on high alert in the province for several days in anticipation of possible unrest as a result of the commemorations of the unrecognized Dec. 1 independence declaration.