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Sandaun serves notice to OPM

[ The PNG-Independent - January 23, 2003 - Issue 399 ] 
http://www.niugini.com/independent/provnews2.html 

MEMBERS of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) have been issued notices ordering them to dismantle camps in the Sandaun province and to move out. This was revealed by Sandaun's acting provincial administrator - Joeseph Sungi early this week.

Mr Sungi said while the situation at the border remained calm, this was the directive the provincial administration had been given by the national government to administer.

He said the directives were that the OPM members act before January 29, or risk being dealt with by the law.

He said provincial authorities had already begun issuing these notices to those concerned in an orderly and peaceful manner and in making these remarks he appealed to these people to cooperate with the authorities. He said he estimated there to be less that 100 OPM members who were involved in the border clashes and that they were currently being housed at three different camps in the area.

Mr Sungi said that police personnel, including a mobile squad from Lae, were still monitoring the situation adding that while things had quietened a little, villagers from Wutung who have gardens situated six kilometres into the Indonesian territory have refrained from carrying out their daily chores for fear of their lives.

"Villagers from Wutung who have gardens on the other side of the border, as permitted, have refrained from tending to their plots because even though things may have quietened down a little, their safety isn't guaranteed," he added.

Meanwhile, recent reports are that the government intends to reactivate border development operations to lessen risks of clashes between Indonesian troops and OPM rebels.

Media reports released early this week stated that Foreign Affairs Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu, said that despite financial constraints police and military presence at the border would be stepped up however, he believed border development to be the key to prevent such incidents. Sir Rabbie said PNG previously had this going when he was previously the foreign minister and that plans were underway to bring this back in the budget planning.

He said he believed that this would help to strengthen PNG's presence along the border

He also highlighted that there were problems in handling the border issue because both PNG and Indonesia had signed agreements in the past which meant there were obligations and responsibilities to uphold on both sides.

The Worrisome of the Papuan Refugees in PNG

Port Moresby, 23 January 2003, AMP Reporting,

Reports coming out from Papua New Guinea Government 's attitude and decision in regard to the Papuan refugees in Vanimo PNG are enough indications for all of us to worry about immediate deportation of Papuan people from PNG side of the New Guinea Island to its western half. 

Massive operation against the Papuans will be carried out on 29 January 2003, i.e., just one day from now. The operation will start from Vanimo and it is highly possible that it will spread into other refugee camps across Papua New Guinea. 

There has been no consultation with the Papuan people as to whether or not they are willing to return to West Papua. Their refuge to PNG was due to fear of torture, rape, intimidation and death. They were not in PNG now in pursuing a better life, but just to survive and live as human beings, freely and peacefully.

Reactions from Papuan refugees (about 3500 people) are:

• They do not accept in any way of the forced repatriation of thousands of people. 
• They one a third party country to help deport them out from PNG in PNG government is aiming at killing them by sending its people back
• They request the UNHCR and International NGOs as well as Vanuatu, Nauru, Fiji and New Zealand Governments to be their country of destination rather than allowing themselves being killed after returning by force to West Papua 

Troops await orders to act against OPM

Post Courier (PNG) 23/1/03

POLICEMEN and soldiers deployed on border duties have yet to receive their operational orders from superiors. With only seven days to go before the deadline set for the Operassi Papua Merdeka (OPM) fighters to move out of Papua New Guinean soil, PNG troops stationed in Vanimo are still unsure of what they are supposed to do. A mobile squad from Lae has been in Vanimo since troubles flared on the border last month. There is also an army unit permanently stationed in Vanimo consisting of about 100 men to carry out routine border monitoring patrols.These men believe they would have to carry out the exercise to force the rebels out of their camps if they did not voluntarily leave by the January 29, deadline, which is next Wednesday. But so far, they have not been given their operational orders. They still have not got funding to support any operation against OPM camps along the PNG/Indonesia border as well as a number of "refugee camps", where it is believed many of the OPM members were residing. Sources from Vanimo who are part of the deployment, said yesterday they were in a state of uncertainty. "The boys are having a game of rugby out there on the field. We are not doing any preparations because we have not got our operational orders yet," one source said.

He said they were especially concerned after PNG Defence Force Commander Brigadier-General Peter Ilau came out in the media with the order for the rebels to clear out of PNG soil by January 29. "Most of the refugee camps and known OPM camps are not easily accessible by road, which means we have to use helicopters. And for those accessible by road, we will need to find transport," the source said. He also said Foreign Affairs officers would need to be on site, as it would be their responsibility to decide what to do with rebels who refuse to leave. "We need to know what the modus operandi is when we find out that there are elements of OPM who refuse to go. Do we arrest them and take them to court? Do we deport them?" "These are questions that have to be dealt with by Foreign Affairs, or must be stated in the operational orders." Meanwhile, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Vanimo Cesare Bonivento has urged that any decisions on the future of the West Papua border crossers must be based on "justice, love for peace and respectfor human rights". Bishop Bonivento called on PNG citizens to pray for the PNG authorities tasked with making the decisions on the border crisis so that their decisions are good for everyone.

"Any decision that neglects these basic human values will not be helpful to anybody and will be counterproductive like a boomerang, despite the intentions and the expectations of those who put them in place," he said. "Let us pray that our PNg authorities will be able to protect the people living along the border and those staying in Vanimo, giving them confidence, freedom of movement and serenity."

Border situation under control'

The National (PNG) 23/1/02

PAPUA New Guineans living along the common border area have been assured that there is no cause for alarm over possible invasion or further military activities by the Indonesian troops inside PNG soil. Internal Security Minister, Yawa Silupa gave the assurance yesterday. "There is no need for the people to panic because the two countries have a mechanism in place to contain and diffuse any such situations through the Joint Border Agreement between the two countries," he said. He pointed out that Government officials on both sides are closely monitoring the situation and keeping the two governments informed of activities at the common border.

The Minister also commended Police Commissioner, Sam Inguba for personally going to the border area to assess the situation. "This clearly demonstrates the Government's commitment to the welfare and security of the people of this country," he said. He added that the Government of Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare would do everything within its powers to protect its people and the sovereignty of the country. He also noted that in the wake of the current activities of the OPM separatists and the Indonesian military, the Government has deployed a Mobile Squad from Lae to beef up security operations on the PNG side of the border. "The deployment of additional police mobile squad in the border area will remain for some time," Mr Silupa said. He said the security personnel will continue to provide security and monitor the situation on both sides of the border. The Minister made it clear that rebels seen to be violating the due process would be dealt with accordingly under the laws of PNG. He also commended the Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu for assuring the Indonesian Ambassador in Port Moresby that PNG is taking steps to prevent its territory from being used as a staging point by OPM rebels to attack Indonesian Government installations.

PNG's Catholic Church hopes UN can prevent repatriation of border crossers to Indonesia

RNZI NEWS, Created at 11:13 am on 23 January 2003

Papua New Guinea's Catholic Church is hoping the UN's knowledge of why Papuans fled Indonesia into Sandaun will protect them from being repatriated during a possible crackdown by PNG authorities against Free Papua or OPM rebels. The Secretary for Caritas, Samson Mesambe, says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is aware of the bordercrossers plight and the PNG government would not want to attract international criticism by deporting them.Mr Mesambe says bordercrossers, who fled Indonesia three years ago because of increasing violence, fear that they will be mistakenly identified by PNG Police as OPM rebels. The Somare Government gave OPM rebels, accused of launching anti-Jakarta attacks from PNG, until January 31 to go back to Indonesia or face deportation. Mr Mesambe says the UN's knowledge of the Papuans in PNG maybe the only thing protecting the bordercrossers from being deported to Indonesia.

"We have advised them not to be frightened because the case has been brought to the UN and the government can't do anything at the moment. ....Although this fear is still among them, and they have been frustrated, we have advised them not to worry to much about this."Samson Mesambe, PNG's Caritas

Govts in close touch over border problems 

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu and the Indonesian Ambassador John Djopari, have discussed the current situation on the common border and the need to work together to reduce tension. photo. Foreign Affairs Minister Sir Rabbie Namaliu and Indonesian Ambassador John Djopari are flanked by Indonesian Embassy Minister Counselor Benson Rea, left, and Foreign Affairs Secretary Evoa Lalatua after Mr Djopari, second right, met with Sir Rabbie for the first time on Monday. 

Sir Rabbie said this yesterday after meeting for the first time with Djopari in Port Moresby on Monday. "I assured the ambassador that PNG is taking steps to prevent its territory being used as staging points by OPM rebels to attack Indonesian Government installation, personnel and citizens," said Sir Rabbie. Sir Rabbie told the Indonesian envoy that the number of PNG police and military personnel patrolling the border in West Sepik province is being increased to deter rebel activity. "Border officials from both sides are closely monitoring the situation and keeping our two governments informed of activities at the common border." 

Sir Rabbie also said he met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister, Dr Hassan Wirayuda in New York and Mexico last year and both men agreed that they should give more attention to promoting trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. "In this regard, Ambassador Djopari and I agreed to actively pursue the appropriate areas to increase trade, economic and other cooperation." These include direct air and shipping services with Indonesia, Ministerial exchanges in education and agriculture, and academic exchanges," said Sir Rabbie. "We also discussed the timing of the proposed visit to PNG by the Indonesian Foreign Minister, which will serve as an ideal opportunity to sign the revised PNG/Indonesia Basic Border Agreement." http://www.thenational.com.pg/0108/nation12.htm  

Indons deny troops build-up on border 

INDONESIA has officially denied a build-up of troops on the border it shares with Papua New Guinea. An Indonesian Embassy spokesman in Port Moresby told The National yesterday, media reports of some 1,500 troops being mobilised on the border was totally untrue. The spokesman said such irresponsible journalism only creates unnecessary anxiety, especially for people living along the border, as well as the two governments. "We have and will always continue to maintain good relations with the Papua New Guinea Government, including sharing information on the border, covering bilateral or military issues and there's no such build-up of troops on our side of the border," said the spokesman. "We have always maintained 100 or less troops on the border since its opening and that is the number we have there at present.'' 

The spokesman said the border is an ongoing issue for discussion between PNG and Indonesia during the border talks every year and this year would be no different. He said Indonesia understands the importance of maintaining a level of mutual respect, corporation and understanding with its neighbour and that will be continued for a long time yet. He said the situation on the border was quite normal but disturbances by the OPM rebels have affected locals on both sides of the border.

Top cop warns against use of PNG soil as rebel bases 

By DAVID TERRY 

PAPUA New Guinea will not allow the OPM separatists to use its soil to wage attacks on Indonesian interests, Police Commissioner Sam Inguba has asserted. 

Mr Inguba made these remarks in the wake of recent exchanges of gunfire between OPM operatives and Indonesian soldiers, which prompted the Indonesian military to increase its activities along the border separating the two countries. Since the December skirmish, there has been a reported build-up of Indonesian troops along the common border and PNG has also dispatched police and soldiers to monitor the situation. Soldiers and policemen at the border post told Mr Inguba that Indonesian forces were deployed along the border from Wutung to Skotiau to track down OPM rebels. An OPM fugitive was wounded by gunfire on Dec 16 and two women suffered bullet wounds at Wutung when they were attacked by unknown gunmen on Dec 28. 

Mr Inguba said the actions of the OPM would impose great risks on the lives of innocent Papua New Guineans living along the border. Because of this, he said, the PNG Government would do everything within its powers to protect the sovereignty of PNG. Government authorities in Vanimo have warned PNG citizens not to venture out into areas close to the border as they fear innocent citizens may be caught in the crossfire. Mr Inguba this week traveled to Wutung border post to assess th ejoint Police and Defence Force operation. He said PNG troops now deployed along the border would carry out awareness campaigns in efforts to dissuade supporters of the OPM from using PNG soil to attack Indonesian interests. He said PNG would not tolerate OPM activists who seek refuge in PNG adding that those who violate the laws of PNG would be dealt with accordingly. 

He said PNG citizens are living in fear of repercussions from the Indonesian military, however, the combined detachment of police and Defence soldiers will remain there for another three weeks as arrangement are made for fresh troops to relieve them. Mr Inguba said PNG would continue to respect the joint border agreement by the two countries, and warned that PNG authorities would not tolerate any illegal activities on the PNG side of the border. A police mobile squad from Lae has been dispatched to Vanimo to monitor the situation while the PNGDF maintains its normal deployment.

Border tense From AWPA Post Courier (PNG) 8/1/03

Border tense PAPUA New Guinea military and police on the PNG-Indonesia border want their manpower beefed up to counter possible incursions by Indonesian soldiers. 

Highly placed security force members (police/soldiers) said yesterday they had been intimidated on several occasions, but had refrained from retaliating because of their inadequate presence at the border. 

The sources said at the border that an Indonesian military helicopter had flown into PNG airspace twice while in pursuit of OPM rebels on December 17 after the bloody ambush of an Indonesian patrol. 

"At once stage, a Cessna plane flew over into our space. This is very intimidating but we can't do much. Yes, obviously we need more manpower presence here," the military source said. A police source agreed. 

The pair said Indonesian troops at one stage had fired shots into the air into the PNG side of the border. "This is very intimidating," the source said. "Obviously, there has been a build up of military on the other side, but we don't know how many," the sources said. 

A Wutung village councillor Patrick Muliale yesterday confirmed the incursions, adding Wutung's security was at stake. Wutung is just 100 metres from the border. "The biggest fear I have is that Wutung villagers will be the first victims and that we will be caught in the middle if anything happens," he said. 

He said the villagers had not visited their gardens, which had been destroyed by wild pigs. Mr Muliale said the OPM rebels also had destroyed their food gardens but they could not do much because they were scared of rebel retaliation. 

Police Commissioner Sam Inguba visited the border yesterday and had been fully briefed on the situation, including the recent incursions by Indonesian soldiers. 

Mr Inguba, after visiting the border, said the situation was tense on both sides, adding the main worry raised by border officials during meetings he had had in Vanimo was the use of PNG soil by OPM rebels. He confirmed the recent clashes between the OPM rebels and Indonesian security forces and the reported incursions, but refrained from discussing the issue until he briefs the National Executive Council next week. 

Mr Inguba said the Lae-based mobile squad currently deployed to the border would continue to remain on the scene for another three weeks until he gives further orders. He re-affirmed a previous NEC decision and the position of the PNG Government that PNG would not entertain OPM fighters using PNG soil to launch attacks on the Indonesian army. He also issued a stern warning to OPM separatists to stay clear of the PNG border and hinted that refugee camps could be removed if similar attacks continued to affect PNG citizens on the border. 

Mr Inguba said the PNG Government would do everything within its powers to protect the sovereignty of Papua New Guinea. He said the National Government would continue to respect the joint border agreements concurred by the two countries and police would not tolerate OPM rebels that seek refuge in PNG and violate its laws.

Papuan leaders want talks with PNG government over border clashes 

Meanwhile..... Papua leaders concerned about the reported border clashes are calling for dialogue with the PNG government. Franz Albert Joku from the Papua Presidium Council says that they want to share with the Somare government information which will dispute claims that the OPM was behind the recent attacks. 

He says that if the Somare government sends Papuans back across the border, innocent Papuans living peacefully in PNG will be affected. " We have no problem in PNG, cooperating with Indonesia, ... but we don't want them sacrificing West Papuans simply because of ignorance about what is actually happening on the ground.....our information suggests, that the Indonesian military, has been training Papuan militia groups, who are now being used along the border, posing as OPM." Franz Albert Joku of the Papua Presidium Council.

PNG police commissioner investigating alleged OPM attacks across Indonesian border 

RNZI NEWS Created at 6:20 pm on 07 January 2003

Papua New Guinea's police commissioner has been sent to the border province of Sandaun to investigate whether or not Papuan separatist rebels have been launching attacks against Indonesia from PNG. 

Tarcy Eri, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Secretary says the Commissioner, Sam Inguba, will investigate security breaches along the border by OPM, or Free Papua, rebels and Jakarta troops.

Mr Eri's comments come after Indonesia accused PNG of harbouring OPM rebels in the border town of Wutung. Jakarta also accused OPM rebels of recent attacks on a delegation of Papuan government officials and troops as well as shooting and wounding several members of the family of a prominent human rights activist.

Yesterday, PNG's Foreign Affairs Minister, Sir Rabbie Namaliu censur Jakarta's Ambassador to PNG over reports of Indonesian troops crossing the border and randomly shooting local citizens. Mr Eri says the Somare government will not tolerate OPM rebels using PNG soil to launch attacks against Indonesian. "The police commissioner is on the border now.... to determine whether these people have been actually operating from our side. We will get our security people to go ask them, and get them to go back to their side and do what ever they want to do with their own people.....We will not allow them to use our soil, to mount operations against the Indonesian army. If they want to take on the might of the Indonesian Army, then they should do it on the other side." Tarcy Eri, PNG's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

PNG government wants OPM rebels out of the country

RNZI NEWS Created at 4:29 pm on 08 January 2003 

The Papua New Guinea Government has issued a directive against Papuan separatist rebels in the country saying that it wants them to go back to Indonesia. 

Joe Sungi, the Administrator of PNG's border province of Sandaun says Free Papua or OPM rebels will be given an ultimatum to go back to Indonesia within three weeks or face deportation. Mr Sungi says the government directive was issued during a meeting with provincial and border officials, police, and National Security Council members yesterday. 

Earlier, the Somare government received internal criticism for its lack of policy regarding Papuans in Sandaun while Jakarta accused it of harbouring OPM rebels who allegedly ambushed Indonesian troops from PNG on New Year's Day. 

Mr Sungi says Papuans in camps on the PNG side of the border are warned that action will be taken against them if they do not voluntarily go back to Indonesia. Joe Sungi says that the government will provide funds to finance logistical support for police and defence force soldiers patrolling the border. He says also that 2000 Indonesian troops are expected to guard the entire length of its side of the border.

RI rejects foreign research on Papua, Aceh

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has announced a plan to restrict foreign researchers' access to conduct field work in Papua and Aceh, saying that many came with intentions other than academic goals that could amount to an interference in Indonesia's domestic affairs. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda specifically named researchers from the Netherlands and Australia who are planning to conduct studies in the two troubled Indonesian provinces. Critics have said the government's stance on researchers reflect its own lack of confidence in regards its own position in Papua and Aceh, where clandestine wars for independence had been going on for years. 

Hassan acknowledged that the government was not in any position to reject foreign researchers from coming to the country because of the existing visa-free facility granted to visitors from Western countries, including the Netherlands and Australia. "The problem is that the short visit visa-free facility given to tourists is often abused by researchers," he told reporters after meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri. 

He said, however, that the visa facility could be restricted for visits to Aceh and Papua, without elaborating further. Currently, visas granted upon arrival is good for visiting any part of the archipelago. An Australian-based researcher and an American nurse were convicted last week for violating visa regulations when they visited Aceh last year and wandered into separatist territory. Hassan said the government would be monitoring any suspicious activities by the Dutch and Australian researchers, who are reportedly planning to visit Papua. He said these research studies could be part of a plot to "internationalize" Papua's independence issue, an independence that is being sought by some people in the province. 

He noted that the Dutch parliament has urged its government to conduct research into the process by which Papua, once a Dutch colony, became part of the Indonesian republic in the 1960s. Such a research topic could not be for purely academic purposes, he insisted. "Why now, and not 10 years ago?" he asked. He feared that the researchers would look at the question of the act of self-determination in Papua in the 1960s only partially instead of wholly. The minister also noted that the planned research ran parallel to demands for a revision of the history of Papua's integration with Indonesia by the Papuan Presidium Council, the group which is openly demanding for an independent state.

Besides this research commissioned by the Dutch parliament, a number of Dutch non-governmental organizations and Australian researchers had also been trying to enter Papua to conduct their own research, he said.

No evidence so far that soldiers involved in Papua ambush: minister

Agence France Presse January 6, 2003

JAKARTA, A joint police and military inquiry into an ambush in Papua province in which two American teachers were killed has found no evidence so far that Indonesian soldiers were involved, the top security minister said Monday. "The investigation into the shooting of the Freeport employees on August 31 has yet to find the perpetrators. Secondly, charges of involvement by rogue members of the military have been investigated and evidence has not yet been found," Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after a cabinet meeting. 

He said he was briefed Sunday on progress in the investigation. The investigation team had been instructed to continue work "until the perpetrators are found." "There are three possibilities. First it could have been carried out by OPM (separatist rebel Free Papua Movement); second, by rogue military; or a third party which is neither OPM nor the military and could be from inside Freeport," the minister said. Gunmen opened fire on buses near the US-owned Freeport gold and copper mine on August 31, killing two US teachers and an Indonesian colleague and injuring 18 others. Papua deputy police chief Brigadier General Raziman Tarigan has said Kopassus special forces soldiers were suspected of having carried out the attack. Reports of military involvement in the attack could seriously undermine US and Australian efforts to resume full military ties with Indonesia, restricted since 1999 because of the military-backed violence in East Timor. 

US President George W. Bush has called for a Bali-style joint investigation into the ambush, an Australian newspaper, The Age, reported last month. Yudhoyono said the government was ready to brief Washington on the progress of the probe. "If the US government asks about this because two of its citizens are among the victims, we will brief them on the results from the team of investigations and tell them that we will continue the investigation," Yudyoyono said. 

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in November that US intelligence agencies had intercepted messages between Indonesian army commanders indicating they were involved in staging the ambush. It quoted a source as saying the motive was to pressure Freeport to continue an annual protection payment of more than 10 million dollars to the army command responsible for Papua.

Indonesia deploys 4,000 military personnel in Irian Jaya exercise

BBC Monitoring International Reports January 8, 2003 , Source: Media Indonesia, Jakarta, in Indonesian 

Surabaya (Media Indonesia): In the midst of a heated situation following the recent shooting of civilians, about 4,000 TNI Indonesian National Military Forces personnel from the navy, air force and army were mobilized to Papua Irian Jaya as part of their 2003 amphibious operations programme. The troops were sent off yesterday (7 January) by the navy's Eastern Fleet commander, Rear Admiral I Wayan Rampe, from the Ujung Docks in Surabaya. 

Also present were East Java Police Chief Inspector-General Heru Susanto and V/Brawiaya Military Area Commander Major-General Sikky. Apart from the 4,000 personnel, the exercise was also being supported by navy, air force and army hardware assets. 

Eastern Fleet provided 21 warships, two CN/Casa aircraft, two N-22/Nomad aircraft, two Bell and one Bolkow helicopters, with the air force providing four aircraft. Rear Admiral Rampe told reporters after the parade that the departure of these personnel to Papua was a training exercise and had nothing to do with incidents involving the shooting of civilians. "This is purely an exercise to improve the professionalism of our soldiers. It has nothing to do with conditions in Papua. Anyway, conditions in Papua are extremely conducive and that is why we are training there"... 

The rear admiral continued to explain that up until now, exercises had only been conducted in Ambon, Sulawesi and Sumatra, mostly in the Java Sea and very seldom in Papua. They not specified, presumably the Papuan people complained to TNI that combat exercises were always conducted outside Papua and the Papuan community expected exercises to be conducted in the waters around Papua. So, he said, the Papuan governor and other public figures had requested that an exercise be carried out in Papua so that the soldiers would gain plenty of experience. "So this exercise has the stamp of approval from the Papuan governor and other community leaders and in fact we have invited the public to observe the progress of the exercise," he said. 

Rampe denied that the exercise was a TNI "show of force"... The exercise would be spread across 3,000 kilometres of water, something that has never been done by TNI personnel. "There will be no landings, it will all be carried out at sea," he said. The Eastern Fleet Commander also gave instructions that if any foreign fishing boats were stopped and did not have the appropriate documentation, then they were to be sunk. This was the case a short time ago when a passing vessel from New Zealand was almost bombed.