Wiranto deplores separatist demos in Irian Jaya

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Affairs/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said yesterday that the hoisting of the separatist West Papuan flag in Irian Jaya was an act of treachery.

"Wherever a flag other than the Indonesian flag is hoisted, there is treachery and ABRI will not tolerate this," Wiranto was quoted by Antara as saying.

Wiranto was commenting on a series of demonstrations in several towns in Irian Jaya over the past few days in which the separatist flag of West Papua was hoisted.

The latest incident occurred in Wamena, 288 km southwest of the provincial capital of Jayapura yesterday, in which protesters raised the flag at the local legislative building.

Armed Forces spokesman Maj. Gen. Syamsul Ma'arif said security forces had first removed the flag and seized some weapons.

But the protesters later raised another flag, Antara reported. Trikora Regional Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Herry Risdiyanto was quoted by Antara as saying that security personnel were finally able to take down the flag later yesterday evening.

Tuesday's protest followed a clash Monday on the island of Biak, 500 kilometers northwest of Jayapura, where security forces opened fire with rubber bullets on pro-independence protesters, wounding 24 people. A further 180 people were arrested during the incident.

The clash occurred when security forces forcibly dispersed the protesters, who were raising the Free Papua Movement flag.

Irian Jaya Police Chief Brig. Gen. Hotman Siagian said Monday that the stern measures were taken because the authorities would not tolerate the wave of pro-independence rallies that began July 2.

In Jayapura, a police intelligence officer was beaten to death by students after he was caught infiltrating a crowd of Cendrawasih University students who were holding a pro- independence protest on their campus Friday.

The protest turned violent, leading to a confrontation between students and security personnel. The resulting clash led to the injury of two students.

Law student Steven Suripatty was shot in the head and was listed in critical condition, while junior high school student Korina Onim was reportedly shot in her right knee.

Both students are still being treated at Jayapura General Hospital.

Frans A. Wospakrik, the rector of the state-run Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, criticized the U.S. Congress yesterday for fanning separatist sentiments by suggesting that the Indonesian government grant autonomy to East Timor and Irian Jaya.

Wospakrik was quoted by Antara as saying that 15 members of Congress had written a letter to President B.J. Habibie calling for the autonomy of the two provinces.

The letter roused emotions and influenced public opinion in Irian Jaya, he said.

Pro-independence protests have been mounting in Irian Jaya, and also in the former Portuguese colony of East Timor, since the resignation of former president Soeharto and his replacement by President B.J. Habibie on May 21 amid the country's worst economic and political crisis in decades. (byg)