U.S. blamed for rights violations in Papua

U.S. blamed for rights violations in Papua

R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura

The students of state-run Cenderawasih University in Jayapura,
Irian Jaya, lodged a petition on Tuesday that the United States
of America be held responsible for the prevalent human rights
abuses in province since the territory's integration into
Indonesia in 1963.

The petition was lodged by student delegates, led by Stevan
Kambuaya, in a meeting with visiting U.S. Ambassador Ralph L.
Boyce and his entourage at the university campus near Jayapura.

Hundreds of students held a peaceful demonstration outside the
meeting venue to protest the province's integration into
Indonesia.

"The United States of America should be held responsible for
the human rights abuses, including the killing of charismatic
Papuan tribal leader Theys Hiyo Eluway following its full support
for the province's integration into Indonesia," said Kambuaya.

He said all Papuan students rejected the undemocratic
referendum on the province's integration and called for a
democratic one to allow the Papuan people to determine their own
future.

The students called on the U.S. government to take the
initiative to set up an international inquiry into Theys' murder.

At least three teams from the local police, the Indonesian
Military and the central government were established to
investigate Theys' murder but, so far, no one has been held
responsible.

The police and military teams have given the indication that
the local military was involved in the killing.

Theys' body was found in a village bordering Papua New Guinea
on Nov. 11, 2001, a day after he attended the celebration of
Heroes Day at the housing compound of the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus) in the city.

Aristoteles Masoka who drove Theys to the celebration is still
missing.

Boyce declined to respond to the petition and called on the
students not to give him political statements because his visit
was aimed at observing the development program in the province.

The ambassador said he and his government appreciated the
special autonomy for the province and the Papuan people's
political aspirations to be freed from coercion, intimidation and
backwardness.

According to him, the special autonomy is a golden opportunity
for the local people to achieve a better future.

He also said the U.S. government would continue to provide
financial assistance to help accelerate the development program,
especially in the field of education and health.

In a meeting with local officials on Monday, Boyce reiterated
Washington's political stance on the province's integration with
Indonesia, saying that his government would never support the
secessionist movement in the province.

Before moving to the city, the ambassador and his entourage
also visited the American copper and gold mining company PT
Freeport Indonesia in Timika.