Soldiers placed on alert in Papua

Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua

A high-ranking Army general has ordered his troops to be on the alert against possible attacks from the Free Papua Movement (OPM) ahead of the Dec. 1 Papua Independence Day.

The high alert was necessary, as the Papuan rebels generally caused chaos prior to the anniversary in order to show the public that they still existed, said Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal, chief of the Trikora military command overseeing Papua province.

"Prior to Papua Independence Day, rebel leaders would issue circulars ordering their troops to attack police and military posts, or even public venues. So TNI personnel must remain vigilant," Nurdin told reporters here on Friday, after attending the 40th anniversary of a Jayapura military base.

The OPM and independence sympathizers have marked Dec. 1 as Papua's independence day.

Last year, despite a ban by the government, some 500 Papuans celebrated their independence day in Jayapura, in front of the house of the late Papuan independence leader, Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was murdered by TNI soldiers.

The soldiers have since been tried by a human rights tribunal and sentenced.

Seven people were arrested after the celebration on suspicions of attempting to incite violence and attack government offices.

A string of protests against the Indonesian government were also held across major cities in Papua a few days before the incident, which raised tension in the troubled province.

Nurdin asserted that his order this year was timely, following a rebel attack last Tuesday in Paniai regency, some 500 kilometers southwest of Jayapura. Four construction workers were killed and a police officer was badly injured in the attack.

A day later in Jayawijaya regency, TNI troops killed 10 OPM members, including their leader Yustinus Murib.

"They will probably take revenge sometime soon. They may not attack large military posts, but they will likely assault small military and police posts in remote areas," Nurdin said.

The troops have also been told to beef up security in the province to prevent minor conflicts from escalating, and they have been instructed to shoot on sight any parties attempting to cause riots.

Nurdin commands more than 9,000 soldiers in Papua under the Trikora military command. The TNI has deployed an additional some 2,600 soldiers throughout the province, which is home to 2.4 million people.

Attacks have continued periodically since the OPM began an armed resistance against the Indonesian government for an independent Papua, after the province was incorporated into Indonesia in 1963.

Meanwhile, Papua Governor JP Salossa called on the Papuan people not to undertake any activities that could raise tension in the province, including hoisting the Morning Star independence flag or other separatist symbols.

Salossa also cautioned the military to distinguish between civilians and OPM members, in order to avoid killing innocent civilians in their effort to crush the separatist movement.