Soldiers on full alert to curb Papua attacks

Soldiers on full alert to curb Papua attacks

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

Security forces will be on full alert across Papua on the eve of
the country's 58th Independence Day on Sunday to prevent possible
separatist attacks in the troubled province, the Indonesian
Military said on Thursday.

Police in Jawawijaya regency say they are bracing for attacks.

Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal, overseeing
security in Papua, said on Thursday he had issued an order to
curb separatist activities ahead of and during the celebrations.

The military had found leaflets from separatist leaders urging
supporters to boycott celebrations, he said.

"Though it is only a leaflet ... the Indonesian Military
should not ignore it because rebels usually choose to attack at
such times, including on Aug. 17."

The Free Papua Movement (OPM) and other separatist groups in
Papua have been waging low-level, often non-violent campaigns for
independence for the resource-rich province for decades.

The military has blamed the OPM for last year's attack on a
convoy belonging to the Freeport mining company. Two American
teachers and an Indonesian were killed. However, most observers
firmly blame the military itself for the attack.

Nurdin said if there were leaflets then there "will be attacks
by OPM members," Nurdin said in the provincial capital Jayapura.

He was speaking to journalists after presiding over a ceremony
marking the installment of Lt. Col. Victor Tobing as chief of
Papua's intelligence detachment, replacing Lt. Col. Victor
Tobing.

Nurdin said the military would not play down the threat of
separatist attacks by OPM members.

Separatists could launch attacks on such a key day to show
they remained in existence and that their independence day was
not Aug. 17, he said.

In the remote town of Wamena, Jayawijaya, police were on full
alert over rumors of an imminent attack by a separatist group led
by Petrus Tabuni.

"Now we are on full alert because of the rumors that the
Petrus Tabuni group will launch attacks on the eve of the Aug. 17
independence celebrations," Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr.
Comr. Agung Makbul said.

He said that attacks would come on the heels of the already
heated political situation in Jayawijaya ahead of the upcoming
regental elections in November.

The political rivalry has begun heating up between supporters
of rival candidates, which could stir up ethnic and tribal
clashes in the regency, Agung added.

Despite special autonomy in 2001 to appease separatism, most
Papuans remain impoverished. Sporadic violence and other
separatist activities continue.

OPM rebels were blamed for the theft of at least 29 rifles on
Apr. 4, 2003, from the Wamena district military command. Two
soldiers were killed in the raid. However, there was suspicion
that soldiers played a role in the theft because it occurred
under the noses of on-duty personnel.

Last month, a separatist group hoisted a Melanesian flag at
the Jayawijaya legislative council. Police later arrested five
separatists over the incident.

Agung said these activities showed that separatism still
existed and could pose a threat to Papuans.

"That's why we continue to be on alert because they
(separatists) can reappear and launch attacks," he added.