U.S. supports Papuan struggle: Beanal

U.S. supports Papuan struggle: Beanal

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The United States government and
Congress have expressed their support for the Irian Jaya people's
struggle for independence, a Papuan leader said on Monday.

Deputy chairman of the Papuan Council Presidium Thom Beanal
told journalists on Monday that he and Willy Mandowen, another
Papuan figure, had just returned from the United States.

As the person entrusted with the mandate of the Papuan
National Congress II, they handed over the results of the
congress to President Bill Clinton, members of Congress and the
U.S. ambassador to Indonesia, Beanal said.

He did not reveal when the trip was made and, so far, there
has been no statement from the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta about the
matter.

The congress took place in Jayapura from May 29 to June 3.

"President Bill Clinton, Congressmen, the Secretary General of
the World Council of Churches, as well as the ambassador were
surprised by the struggle of the Papuans to get back their
independence from the Dutch administration and that they were
robbed of that opportunity by the United States and the United
Nations through the New York pact in 1962, Trikora (Order) in
1963, and the Act of Free Choice in 1969," Beanal said.

Trikora, which stands for Tri Komando Rakyat or three people's
commands, was a mobilization carried out by Indonesia under
former president Sukarno to wrest the western part of New Guinea,
now Irian Jaya, from the Dutch.

According to Beanal, the U.S. Congressmen will send letters to
President Clinton and ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to respond
to the Papuan congress and review the Papuans' political status.

The churches will do the same, acknowledging that Papuans have
been living in intimidation and oppression, he said.

"If the base of the struggle (for independence) is peace and
love, in accordance with religious values, we are ready to
support Papuans willing to face their future, which will be more
peaceful and prosperous on their own land," Beanal said, quoting
the Congressmen and the World Council of Churches.

Beanal, who is the commissioner of the copper mining giant PT
Freeport Indonesia, said that during the international lobby, he
also visited PT Freeport Indonesia's boss in New Orleans, James
Moffet. He also met with several businessmen in the United
States.

He said some businessmen expressed their worries about
investing in the resource-rich province.

Papuan Council Presidium chairman Theys Hiyo Eluay reiterated
that the South Pacific countries of Vanuatu and Nauru gave
similar support.

Vanuatu and Nauru are the first countries to express support
for the Papuans independence movement in Irian Jaya.

Eluay said that he led a nine-man Papuan delegation to meet
Vanuatu Premier Barak T. Sope Mautamate and Nauru Premier Bernard
Dowiyogo on July 31.

The two premiers said they promised to convey the aspirations
of the province to the United Nations' general assembly in
September.

The two countries have also agreed to finance the Papuans'
struggle for independence. (34/sur)