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.