Financial
Times
(London)
Police ordered 'shoot to kill' in
Indonesian separatist riots
By Tom McCawley in Jakarta. Published: October
8 2000 16:57GMT | Last Updated: October 8 2000
18:11GMT
Indonesian police in the province of West Papua
were on Sunday given shoot-to-kill orders to
curb pro-independence riots that left up to 30
dead at the weekend.
Saleh Saaf, the national police spokesman, said
thousands of pro-independence tribesmen had
killed settlers in the area of Wamena, some
2,200 miles north-east of Jakarta, the
Indonesian capital. Brigadier General Saaf said
the pro-independence gangs had fled to the hills
and the area was now quiet.
Riots erupted on Friday after police, under
orders from Jakarta, removed a independence flag
raised by separatists. Abdurrahman Wahid, the
Indonesian president, has allowed the
independence flag to be raised as long as it is
lower than the national flag.
Local gangs, many of them comprising tribesmen
from surrounding hill areas, then turned on
migrants from other parts of Indonesia who live
in Wamena.
Musiran Darmosuwito, acting governor of the
province, confirmed that as many as 30 people,
mostly migrants, were feared dead. Up to 40
people were injured.
A spokesman for the Papua Presidium, a
pro-independence umbrella group, said the
removal of the flag had upset people locally.
"The people are angry and frightened,"
said Willy Mandowen.
Tensions have been building in West Papua,
also known as Irian Jaya, for months since a
convention of activists in May said they would
press for independence. A low-level insurgency,
fought in West Papua's thick forests and
jungles, has simmered for decades, but President
Wahid recently ruled out independence.
West Papua was annexed into Indonesia in 1963
after diplomatic pressure was put on the
Netherlands, the former colonial ruler. A United
Nations-supervised ballot in 1969 resulted in it
becoming part of Indonesia. Activists have
described the result of the ballot as unfair.
Tensions have been aggravated by a
"transmigration" policy implemented by
the government of former president Suharto,
which saw farmers from the islands of Java and
Bali being moved to less-populated areas.
Immigrants' domination of commercial activities
in the province generates resentment among its
population.
The province is also home to a giant copper and
gold mine operated by Freeport McMoran
Indonesia. Local activists accuse the government
in Jakarta of siphoning off the province's
mineral wealth while providing little in return.
Back to Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tempo Interaktif.
Wamena Riots
in Irian Jaya Province:
Wamena Calls for
Volunteer Doctors
9 Oct 2000 17:13:3 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta: The Jayawijaya
regional government in Irian Jaya asked doctors
to voluntarily treat riot victims at the Wamena
General Hospital. Regional government secretary,
Drs. Yason Mabuay, said in Wamena that the
medical volunteers are urgently needed to assist
the hospital's only two doctors with 41 riot
victims and scores of other patients. Yason made
his comments to Antara in Wamena on Sunday,
October 8.
The bloody riots in Wamena, the capital of
Jayawijaya district, raged from Friday to
Saturday, October 6 to 7. As earlier reported by
TEMPO Interaktif, the violence erupted on Friday
at 7:00 a.m. after security forces from the
Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Army Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) hauled down the West
Papua separatist movement flag, "The
Morning Star. Papuan security forces opposed the
police action and a conflict broke out.
According to Yason, since the beginning of the
Wamena riots, eight doctors, including two
medical specialists, have fled to Jayapura.
Wamena is 500 kilometers from Jayapura, the
capital of Irian Jaya Province.
Despite reports of large groups in several
places, conditions in Wamena appear to be
returning to normal. The Chief of the 1702/Jayawijaya
District Military Command, Lt. Col. (Inf) Agus
Sularso, announced on Radio Republik Indonesia
of Wamena station that the situation was
stabilizing and that all non-Papuan residents in
Wamena had no reason to panic. Agus also called
on Papuan citizens in Wamena to stop all acts of
anarchy and return to their
homes to avoid further bloodshed.
Meanwhile, the Wamena riots on Friday and
Saturday left 30 people dead and 41 badly
injured. Officials had buried all of the dead
victims in the Sinakma Village Community
Cemetery on Saturday afternoon.
However, according to Antara news reports in
Wamena, the victim totals would probably rise
because officials have yet to receive reports
from outlying areas. Additionally, some families
have missing family members who may also be riot
victims.
The Jayawijaya Police Station reported the
arrest of 59 rioters. Fifteen of the detainees
are being held as suspects, but the remaining 44
were released for lack of evidence. Back
to Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 9 2:36 PM SGT
Shops re-open as calm returns to riot-torn
Indonesian city
JAKARTA, Oct 9 (AFP)
Frightened settlers began returning to their
homes in Indonesia's remote Irian Jaya province
Monday, three days after riots there left 30
people dead and 45 wounded, officials said.
Police arrested another 20 people in the
mountain town of Wamena on Monday after
detaining 15 as suspects on Sunday and releasing
44 who were arrested earlier, Irian Jaya police
chief Brigadier General Sylvanus Wenas said.
"They're all native to Wamena. We're
charging the 15 suspects in relation to the
riot," Wenas told AFP by phone from the
capital Jayapura.
Clashes over the forced removal of separatist
flags erupted between troops and
pro-independence Papua Taskforce members on
Friday morning.
Police had fired on the Taskforce members,
killing two and wounding 19, human rights
monitors said.
Enraged militants later turned their anger on
migrant settlers from other parts of Indonesia,
whom they suspected of hiding scared officers,
and attacked them with poison arrows, axes,
scythes and knives, police said.
Staff at Wamena General Hospital said six native
Irianese and 24 migrant settlers died in the
day-long violence, and 45 people, including four
police officers were wounded.
More than a thousand settlers who had been
seeking refuge in local military and police
compounds since Friday's unrest began returning
home Monday, an assistant to the local military
commander told AFP by phone.
"They have begun heading home. Warungs (foodstalls)
and shops are opening today," the officer,
who declined to give his name, said.
Commercial activity had virtually ceased over
the weekend as residents stayed indoors or
sheltered in military and police compounds,
local media reported.
"Everything is secure in Wamena now,"
Wenas said.
A doctor from a foreign missionary service
arrived at Wamena's hospital on Monday to assist
the two doctors left there, Theo, a paramedic at
the hospital told AFP.
Four non-native doctors had fled the hospital
for the capital Jayapura on Sunday, complaining
they had no guarantee of safety, he said,
leaving just two doctors to deal with the
wounded.
"They left to find protection because in
this situation they felt scared like all the
other settlers and they wanted to avoid
difficulties," Theo said by phone from
Wamena.
Six native Irianese patients were still being
treated for gunshot wounds at the hospital, he
said.
Nine patients had been airlifted to Jayapura for
emergency treatment and 26 patients had asked to
go home on Sunday, he added.
Four wounded policemen were also being treated
in Jayapura.
The Papuans have long resented Jakarta's policy
of inundating the province with settlers.
Separatists in Irian Jaya have demanded Jakarta
recognise its independence, claiming a United
Nations-conducted "act of free choice"
in 1969, which led to the former Dutch territory
becoming part of Indonesia, was
unrepresentative.
Last December Indonesian President Abdurrahman
Wahid said he would allow the separatist Morning
Star to be flown, but only if it was alongside
and below the Indonesian flag.
Wahid had flatly ruled out independence for the
province of some 2.5 million people, most of
whom are Melanesian Christians. Back
to Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wamena
Brigadier General S.Y. Wenas, chief of the Irian
Jaya Police, really meant what he said when he
threatened to haul down the Morning Star flag,
the symbol of a free Papua. Last Friday,
National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and Army
Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) troops
clashed with locals after the police forcefully
removed the Morning Star flying in front of the
Wamena cinema in Irian Jaya. But locals and
members of the Papuan Defense Force replied by
setting up a volunteer guard.
Because neither side is prepared to lose,
violence cannot be avoided. The locals attacked,
guns were fired and people died. According to
Yance, a security guard from the Papuan Council
Task Force, by Saturday night more than 30
people had died and 40 were wounded, including
three Brimob soldiers. Many of the deaths were
due not only to the clashes but also growing
hatred of the newcomers. "What it has come
down to is that if you see someone with straight
hair, you either throw a spear at him or shoot,
said a guard at the security post. This has
resulted in new arrivals from Java and Sulawesi
fleeing in large numbers to military posts and
the police to ask for protection.
By the end of last week, the situation in Wamena
was still tense. Roads were blockaded and the
airport could not be used because locals had
gathered on the runway. Many foreigners were
immediately evacuated to the nearby Papua New
Guinea border by a plane belonging to
missionaries. According to Yance, it is
estimated that the death toll is much larger.
"The capital of the Jayawijaya regency is
now under the control of the military, but in
the outskirts Papuan forces have the upper
hand."
The military and the local government have held
an emergency meeting to deal with security
issues, but not one member of the Papuan
Presidium attended the meeting. According to the
presidium chairman, Theys H. Eluay, the incident
started because the police used force to take
down the Papuan flag. According to him,
President Abdurrahman Wahid had given permission
for the Morning Star to be flown instead of the
Indonesian national flag. "Because of this,
we will sue the local agencies for the grief
they have caused the Papuan people," he
insisted.
However, Kapolda Wenas supported the action of
the local agencies. "What my men did in the
field was absolutely correct, because previously
there was a conversation previously about the
lowering of the flag," he declared. The
police arrested a total of 59 people, who were
accused of causing damage. A Brimob company was
parachuted in on Saturday to help maintain the
peace. Back to Menu
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bintang Kejora Masih Berkibar Hanya Gus
Dur Yang Bisa Larang
koridor.com [21 Oct, 0:00] Ketua Presidium Dewan
Papua Theys Hiyo Eluay berjanji tak akan
mempermalukan Presiden Gus Dur, dalam
menyelesaikan soal pengibaran bendera Bintang
Kejora. Ia tak mau mengikuti pola elit politik,
yang selalu menghujat.
"Saya tidak mau Gus Dur dipermalukan,"
tandas Theys Hiyo Eluay, kepada koridor.com,
disela-sela pameran 'Seni Rupa Budaya Papua', di
Jakarta, Jumat (20/10) malam.
Theys dijadwalkan akan bertemu dengan Presiden
Gus Dur, untuk membicarakan soal pengibaran
bendera Bintang Kejora di Irian Jaya. Ini
merupakan langkah kongkrit penyelesaian masalah
Papua, karena peristiwa Wamena membuat hubungan
masyarakat Papua dengan Jakarta menegang.
Menurut Theys, sebelum ke Jakarta, ia telah
melakukan dialog dengan Musyawarah Pimpinan
Daerah (Muspida) Irian Jaya. Hasil pertemuan itu
menyepakati, penurunan bendera Bintang Kejora
tetap dilaksanakan setelah Theys bertemu muka
dengan Presiden Gus Dur. Soalnya, Gus Dur lah
yang pertama kali mengijinkan pengibaran bendera
tersebut.
"Kami tidak berurusan dengan Megawati, kami
tidak berurusan dengan Kapolri atau siapapun,
karena kami tahu yang membolehkan kami
mengibarkan Bintang Kejora adalah beliau (Gus
Dur-Red)," ujarnya.
Ditanya mengenai apa agenda pembicaraan dengan
Presiden Gus Dur nanti, ia enggan mengemukakan.
"Itu rahasia," tukasnya. Tapi ia tidak
setuju menggunakan cara-cara seperti yang
dilakukan elite politik Jakarta terhadap Gus Dur
yang selalu menghujat. "Kami tetap
menghormati beliau. Saya tidak mau Gus Dur
dipermalukan," jelasnya.
Yang pasti, dalam pembicaraan itu, akan
ditanyakan kembali janji Presiden Gus Dur
terhadap pengibaran bendera itu. Theys belum
menjelaskan, apa sikap pihaknya nanti, bila
ternyata Gus Dur berubah pendirian dan tidak
mengijinkan lagi pengibaran Bintang Kejora di
Irian Jaya.
Pertemuan dengan presiden sendiri, masih
menunggu kepulangan Gus Dur ke tanah air. (lia /
ht) Back to Menu
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oleh Yophi W. Weyasu
Menjelang batas akhir penurunan Bendera
Bintang Gejora tanggal 19-10-2000 di seluruh
tanah Papua yang diberikan oleh Pemerintah RI,
membuat semua orang merasa khawatir akan adanya
kerusuhan besar di seluruh daerah di tanah Papua
karena di lain pihak rakyat Papua berkeras untuk
tetap mempertahankan berkibarnya bendera Bintang
gejora tersebut. Hal yang sama terjadi
juga di Manokwari, di mana menjelang deadline
tersebut masyarakat kelihatan sangat resah namun
hal tersebut cepat diantisipasi oleh Panel Papua
kabupaten Manokwari dengan mengadakan dialog
dengan Muspida Kabupaten Manokwari.
Dalam dialog tersebut disepakati untuk tidak
diturunkan bendera Bintang gejora hingga batas
waktu tertentu. Hal ini disampaikan sendiri oleh
Kapolres Manokwari dan Dandim Manokwari. Mereka
menyerahkan semua tanggungjawab keamanan
sepenuhnya kepada rakyat Manokwari dan Satgas
Papua. Bendera Bintang Gejora di Manokwari
hingga saat ini hanya berkibar di empat tempat
yaitu LMA Manokwari, Posko Satgas Arowi, posko
Sanggeng Tengah dan Fanindi Pantai. Kesepakatan
ini kemudian diumumkan lewat RRI kepada seluruh
masyarakat di Kabupaten Manokwari. Situasi
Manokwari hingga tanggal 19 dan 20 terlihat aman
dan segala aktivitas berjalan seperti biasanya
dimana segala aktivitas perkantoran maupun
perbelanjaan berjalan seperti biasa.
Hal seperti ini yang perlu dipelihara agar tidak
terjadi hal-hal yang dapat merugikan kita
semua,demikian dikatakan oleh Bpk Barnabas
Madacan Ketua LMA Manokwari. Back
to Menu
------------------------------------------------
Monday, October 23 2:04 PM SGT.
Migrants
trapped in Irian Jaya hinterland.
JAKARTA,
Oct 23 (AFP)
Some 65 migrants were trapped in a hinterland
town in Indonesia's separatist province of Irian
Jaya after thousands of local tribesmen
prevented them from leaving, a report said
Monday.
The migrants were not under detention but were
not allowed to leave Tiom, a town some 270
kilometres (167 miles) west of Wamena, the
Kompas daily said, quoting three teachers who
had managed to slip away.
An officer on duty at the police station in
Wamena declined comment, referring queries to
the police chief, but he could not be reached.
The teachers had slipped through the siege on
Tiom hidden in the back of a truck driven by a
local resident, Kompas said.
They said that thousands of tribesmen, armed
with bows and arrows, spears and stone axes, had
surrounded Tiom and practically imposed town
arrest on some 65 migrants there.
"We were banned from going anywhere,"
said Hendrik Maurius, one of the three who
escaped.
He said that the tribesmen had also threatened
to kill all the migrants in Tiom if Indonesian
security personnel attempted to forcefully lower
the Morning Star separatist flag raised there.
Those still trapped in Tiom were mostly
teachers, government employees and members of
the security forces and their families, they
said.
Kompas said that the administrative and military
chiefs of the Jayawijaya district, which covers
Tiom, had attempted to land there by helicopter
on Saturday but had to fly back to Wamena
because of local hostility.
Members of the presidium of the pro-independence
Papua Council had also attempted to land in Tiom
using a small aircraft but were prevented by a
hostile mob on the ground.
The men who escaped said a group of armed
tribesmen was guarding the Tiom airstrip
following rumors that members of the Papua
Council presidium were to land there to bring
the Morning Star down.
Members of the council's presidium and
Indonesian security leaders last week agreed to
extend an October 19 deadline for the separatist
flags to be lowered while people were told that
the flag should no longer be raised in public.
The government of President Abdurrahman Wahid,
which earlier allowed the raising of the
separatist flag under certain conditions, has
since banned the flag from the public altogether
saying that it had now become of symbol of
separatism there.
The forceful lowering of the flag in Wamena on
October 6, led to bloody rioting that left 30
people dead, mostly settlers. Back
to Menu
------------------------------------------------
Indonesian Observer. Tuesday,
Oktober 24 - 2000.
Rebels funded by foreign
groups
JAKARTA (IO) A team of legislators that recently
visited Irian Jaya (West Papua) says foreign
groups have been funding the separatist Papua
Council Presidium (PDP).
The team yesterday said President Abdurrahman
Wahid should take stern measures against any
efforts to establish an independent West Papua.
The legislators said the government could
counter calls for independence by adopting a new
approach for development of the easternmost
province.
They said the government must accommodate the
aspirations of locals.
The team visited Irian Jaya's Wamena district
from October 16-19 to investigate the bloody
violence on October 6 in which 30 people were
killed.
"We call on Papuan leaders to curb the
number of Papua Task Force members. I believe
the Papua Task Force is funded by foreign
groups. I think the task force is linked to a
foreign conspiracy and influence,"A.M.
Fatwa, deputy speaker of the House of
Representatives, told reporters in Jakarta.
Fatwa, who led the delegation of five
legislators to Wamena, said that during the
visit he observed a mass burial for the
casualties of the Wamena massacre.
The legislators who joined Fatwa for the sojourn
In Irian Jaya were Posma L. Tobing, Yacobus K.
Mayongpadang, Imam Adaruqutni and Rachman
Sulaiman.
Imam of parliament=92s Reform Faction said a
1999 law that calls for Irian Jaya to be split
into three provinces should be implemented
immediately in order to accelerate development
in the remote region.
"It should also be equipped with the
implementation of the regional autonomy law,
with regard to the characteristics of each
area,"he added.
Imam said the government must anticipate a
proposed declaration of Papuan independence
scheduled for December 1. "Indeed, there is
speculation the declaration will be made on
December 1, 2000." Back to
Menu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, October 23 6:23 PM SGT.
Indonesian
security minister blasts Papua separatists.
JAKARTA,
Oct 23 (AFP)
Indonesia's top security minister on Monday
defended the actions of police who shot dead
separatist supporters during a protest in remote
Irian Jaya province 17 days ago, sparking riots
that killed 31 people.
"The police acted proportionately to the
unrest," Coordinating Minister for
Political, Security and Social Affairs, Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, told a luncheon with foreign
journalists here.
"There was some sort of resentment against
the police action, which caused casualties among
the police, and also the indigenous people
organised within the (pro-independence) Papua
Taskforce," he added.
Police opened fire on pro-independence Papuans
protesting against the removal of Morning Star
separatist flags in the hinterland town of
Wamena on October 6, killing four.
Another two died from bullet wounds during later
clashes between the police and the
pro-independence supporters, hospital and human
rights sources have said.
The shootings enraged members of the Papua
Taskforce, a pro-independence civilian
paramilitary organisation, who with
residents from surrounding hills, then attacked
police and migrant settlers, killing 25 of the
settlers.
Yudhoyono also lashed at the Papua Council and
its Presidium, the bodies now spearheading the
independence push, for abusing the government's
trust and for seeking the support of Pacific
nations.
He said the bodies had swayed from their
original role of helping the government to
implement wide-ranging autonomy for the
province.
"Unfortunately the trust given by the
government has been misused and these
establishments have been used to proclaim the
independence of Papua," he said.
Yudhoyono said the Papua People's Congress last
June had "made it known that there is an
intention to declare the independence of Papua
on December 1, 2000."
"The members of the Papua People's Council
have gone to several foreign capitals to rally
support and assistance for their
aspirations for independence," he said.
"Cooperation has been initiated with
several Pacific countries such as Vanuatu and
Nauru who have in turn supported the
independence of Papua at the UN's millennium
summit."
Yudhoyono called the Papua Taskforce, claimed by
its leaders to have tens of thousands of
members, the "embryonic armed forces of
independent Papua."
The Indonesian cabinet has adopted a new
intolerant approach to expressions of separatism
in Irian Jaya since the Wamena riots, declaring
a ban on the Morning Star flag within a week of
the incident.
Yudhoyono repeated the cabinet's position on the
flag, calling it a "political symbol of an
independent Papua."
He was speaking as separatist leaders tried to
arrange a meeting with President Abdurrahman
Wahid to obtain his direct instruction
concerning the flag.
The cabinet ban is a reverse of the tolerant
approach initiated by Wahid in December last
year when he declared the Morning Star could be
flown, provided it was alongside and below the
national Indonesian flag.
In August this year, Wahid told the 700-seat
national assembly he would not tolerate
separatist moves in the province, pledging broad
autonomy instead.
Yudhhoyono said special wide-ranging autonomy
would be implemented in Irian Jaya on May 1 next
year.
The central government's perceived exploitation
of the province's vast mineral resources, years
of neglect and the dominance of commercial life
and the civil service by migrant settlers have
fed separatist sentiments there.
Independence leaders have made increasingly
vociferous calls for secession in recent years,
peaking with the June congress in which they
demanded Jakarta recognise that Papua had been
independent since 1961.
They say a UN-conducted "act of free
choice" in 1969, which led to the former
Dutch territory becoming part of Indonesia, was
unrepresentative.
About three-quarters of Irian Jaya's roughly 2.5
million population are indigenous Melanesians,
spread across 253 predominantly Christian
tribes. Back to Menu
------------------------------------------------
The Jakarta Post.com.
Latest
News. October 24, 2000.
Papuan Task Force
told to stop military training
JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya Police chief Sylvester
Y. Wenas said on Monday that he had asked the
separatist Papuan Task Force to stop their
military-like training in the Jayapura town of
Bonggo.
Wenas said on Monday that the request had been
conveyed to Papuan Presidium Council chairman
Theys Hiyo Eluay, who was expected to comply.
"If my request is ignored and the training
continues, Irian Jaya Police will not be
hesitate to disband the group," Wenas
remarked as quoted by Antara.
He said the security situation in the province
had gradually turned to normal so there was no
need for civilians to be trained as militiamen.
The task force clashed with security personnel
earlier this month following unrest caused by
the pulling down of the separatist Morning Star
flag in Wamena.
Armed civilians ran amok and attacked migrant
settlers in the area. At least 30 people were
killed in the incident.
The government has banned the separatist
movement in Irian Jaya, including the hoisting
of the separatist flag and militias. Back
to Menu
------------------------------------------------
Tempo Magazine. Interview NO.
34/XXIX/October 23 - 29, 2000.
Barnabas Suebu:
"They Only Want Independence"
No one expected blood to flow so freely in the
lush verdant land of Irian Jaya, Indonesia=92s
easternmost province. Yet it was in Wamena, a
small town on the Jayawijaya plateau, some 290
kilometers from the provincial capital of
Jayapura, that 40 people were killed and scores
left injured at almost the same time. They died
or were wounded from gunshots, arrows or spear
wounds earlier this month.
The riots in Wamena were the climax of a fury
and the release of pent-up anger of the people
of Papua (local name for Irian Jaya) against
Jakarta. They had earlier welcomed and rejoiced
over a decision by President Abdurrahman Wahid
to allow them to fly the Morning Star flag. A
furious reaction was inevitable when security
forces stepped in to stop them from hoisting
their symbolic standard.
More than just a mere inconsistency, Irian Jaya
has ironically become the victim of political
policy pursued over the years by Jakarta. The
wealth of this rich province has been kept from
its people. The Papuans have virtually been
reduced to mere spectators of the economic
activities in their area. Forest concessions are
held by companies in Jakarta. PT Freeport
McMoRan, an American company, continues to
exploit the mineral wealth of gold and copper.
An annual contribution of US$5 million from the
company to the province=92s coffers is only a
very recent development.
The unfavorable development in the area is one
of the reasons why the Papuan People=92s
Congress convened in Jayapura last May and
issued a resolution calling for independence
from Indonesia. This decision was a major
surprise for Jakarta. It led President
Abdurahman Wahid to assign former Irian Jaya
governor and current Indonesian Ambassador to
Mexico Barnabas Suebu to negotiate between
Jakarta and Irian Jaya.
And so, Barnabas, 54, became a roving
ambassador, shuttling between Jakarta and
Mexico. Born in Ifale, a tiny island in the
middle of Lake Sentani, Barnabas is seen as an
acceptable figure, both to the Papuans and
Jakarta.
Barnabas Suebu began his political career as a
youth activist in the Indonesian National Youth
Committee. He was a member of an Indonesian
youth delegation that attended the United
Nations General Assembly in New York in 1985.
Since then, Barnabas, fondly referred to as Bas,
has moved on to assume various political
positions. At one time, he was the speaker of
the Irian Jaya provincial legislature. Bas, who
is also a businessman, once chaired the Irian
Jaya Chamber of Commerce.
As the governor of Irian Jaya (1988-1993), the
law graduate of Cendrawasih University was able
to lead the province without any significant
political upheavals. "I made frequent
visits to various areas in the province,"
he said.
Yet Bas almost lost his life at the hands of his
own people in Jakarta. A Wamena resident,
frustrated by a protracted and unsolved dispute
over his land in Irian Jaya, tried to stab him.
Understanding the plight of the individual, Bas
asked the police to free the man and even gave
him some money. "He is now a good
friend," Bas said laughing. Following are
the views of Barnabas Suebu on Irian Jaya,
including provincial autonomy and the Papuans'
disappointment in Jakarta, as conveyed in an
interview with TEMPO correspondent Edy Budiyarso
via telephone last Friday. Back
to Menu
------------------------------------------------
Why were you appointed by President
Abdurrahman Wahid to negotiate between the
government and the Papuan Presidium?
Following the Papuan People's Congress last May,
President Abdurrahman Wahid appointed a number
of negotiators. They are Izaac Hindom (former
governor of Irian Jaya), Manuel Kaisiepo (junior
minister for the acceleration of development in
Indonesia's eastern regions), Agus Kafiar
(former rector of Cendrawasih University), Simon
Morin (a legislator), Fr. Dr. Chil Perari
(Indonesian Federation of Churches) and Prof.
Dr. Nazarudin Syamsudin (University of
Indonesia). These names, however, were rejected
by the Papua Presidium. Later, the President
summoned Izaac Hindom, Acub Zainal (both former
governors) and me. Acub Zainal, who had just had
an operation, declined the President's offer.
Izaac backed out because he had been rejected
before.
What was the President's reason for choosing
you as the mediator?
I was the only one acceptable to both parties.
And you accepted the offer right away?
I gave it serious thought because the situation
in Irian Jaya was worsening. I wanted to be
among the Papuans so I could do something to
resolve the problem and prevent something worse
from happening. At that time, I was the
presidential advisor on the Council for the
Development of Eastern Indonesia.
Are you close to the leaders of the
presidium?
The chairman of the presidium, Theys Hiyo Eluai,
and I are related. We come from the same village
in Sentani, Jayapura. This is a factor that
could facilitate dialogue. But I don't have any
connection with leaders of the Papua
Independence Movement overseas. I really would
like to meet them and discuss what they want.
You were appointed ambassador by former
president Habibie when the situation in Irian
was approaching turmoil? Did you ever feel
sidelined?
I don='t know. In February 1999, some 100 tribal
elders from Irian Jaya met with president
Habibie. They told him nobody from Irian Jaya
had ever become a minister. Nobody from Irian
Jaya had ever risen above the level of governor.
Not long after that, then state secretary Akbar
Tanjung offered me the post of ambassador. The
tribal elders' meeting with president Habibie
might have been instrumental in my becoming an
ambassador.
Irian Jaya was in a relatively stable condition
when you were governor of the province.
Well, conditions were relatively more peaceful
then. That was because I always collaborated
with all provincial leaders as well as with the
security forces. I would often go out to visit
villages to ask the people whether they were
feeling safe or not. If they were afraid then
who were they afraid of? If the security forces
claimed the situation was peaceful but the
people felt uneasy, then this meant that fear
was still lingering on.
But at that time, the Organization for
Papua's Independence had been carrying out
attacks?
They took place in the border area between Irian
Jaya and Papua New Guinea. What occurred were
sporadic armed conflicts between security forces
and rebels living in the jungles. They would
launch sudden attacks and then withdraw. So,
there was no large-scale action directed against
them.
In your view, what is the root of the problem
in Irian Jaya?
It is a comprehensive problem. The bottom line
is injustice. When I was governor, I proposed to
PT Freeport that the people of Irian Jaya,
through the provincial government, be included
as shareholders in the company. I also conveyed
this to former president Suharto and several
ministers. They did not heed me.
PT Freeport McMoRan is now saying it was
giving 1 percent annually to the province?
That was realized only after a long and
continuous effort was made. The people have
perceived an injustice. They are poor and die of
hunger amid their own wealth. They die on the
same mountains that have produced billions of
dollars. Such an injustice has been perceived by
the people who have been helpless to demand for
their rights because of threats directed at
them.
In respect of Freeport, it was said that you
had differences over the matter with the central
government?
I discussed it with mining minister Ginandjar
Kartasasmita. It took a long time for me to
convince him. The 1 percent profit concession
from PT Freeport was only realized when
Ginandjar became chief of the National
Development Agency (Bappenas). And that only
occurred after the Papuans attacked Freeport,
forcing the company to cease operations for
several days. Eventually, it was agreed that
Freeport would give 1 percent of its profits or
about US$5million. That sum of money is quite
sufficient to improve the education and health
of the population.
What was the reason behind Ginandjar's
rejection?
Ginandjar said the 1 percent profit given to
Irian Jaya would be a negative precedent for
other provinces. This, of course, is a weird way
of thinking. Wouldn't Freeport have to close
down if the people started to rebel against it?
What about Suharto's reaction?
I still remember what he said, which really
confused me. Suharto said Irian Jaya was the
center of the regions and was a region of the
central government. In respect of Freeport, he
only said that the share for the province had
been allocated.
When you were governor of Irian Jaya, it was
said you had differences with Suharto?
Well, that had to do with forest concessions.
Holders of concessions exploited the forests and
also damaged the environment. In Irian Jaya,
they only took the big trees and left the small
ones behind. The same thing happened in Biak.
And you know, Biak is a coral island where it is
extremely difficult for plants to grow. That
made me really mad.
Have you ever scolded any of Suharto's
cronies?
Yes, Bob Hasan's group and the Barito group.
Suharto's children have shares in these
businesses. They retaliated. Suharto chided me.
They won because Suharto was in power. As a
governor, I lost his favor. You know, nothing
happened without the consent and blessing of
Suharto. His consent and blessing was tantamount
to the command of a king.
Apart from Freeport and the forest concessions,
what other injustices did you perceive when you
were governor?
The fiscal policy was unfair to Irian Jaya. Most
of the mining taxes went to the central
government. Revenues for the provincial
government came from road and vehicle taxes,
television fees and levies on markets. Such
taxes in heavily populated parts of Java
provided huge revenue to the provincial
governments on the island.
How many cars, motorcycles, radios and
televisions are there in Irian Jaya?
What about other matters?
With regard to court proceedings over land
disputes, the government often came out the
winner once the case reached Supreme Court
level. This is evident is such cases as the
controversial Hanok Obe Ohe case. According to
the Supreme Court ruling, Hanok was the winner.
However, the Supreme Court judge later cancelled
his decision, which triggered large-scale
demonstrations. The Supreme Court is the last
resort for justice before a person finally seeks
the justice of God. As a governor, I perceived
this as a form of state violence against the
people. This happened in Tanah Kampung Harapan
in Jayapura. It also occurred in Biak, when
residents were involved in a conflict with the
Navy.
Is the situation in Irian Jaya like a
smoldering fire?
Yes. The reform movement has removed the lid and
released a lot of smoke. The problem now is that
many people are still too preoccupied with the
smoke. They forget that the smoke is there
because there is a fire.
Do you consider the recent hoisting of the
Morning Star flag to be the smoke?
A flag and an anthem are just smoke as both are
merely symbols. The fire is the injustice.
Prohibiting the hoisting of the flag is just
chasing away the smoke. This means the problem
will drag on and not be resolved.
If justice is delivered, are you convinced
the people of Papua will want to remain a part
of Indonesia?
What is important is that people of Papua feel
they are treated justly, as equals. Without the
feeling of togetherness, they will feel they are
outsiders. History has shown that Dutch
colonialism made us feel that we shared a
similar destiny and had a common desire to
become one nation. This process continued until
1969 when a plebiscite was held. However,
subsequent developments have shown a different
outcome, prompting people to question the need
for us to remain united in one single nation. In
the past, everyone suffered under colonialism.
Now, after independence, one leads a good life
while the other continues to suffer.
The people of Papua insist on independence but
Jakarta rejects it.
How can negotiations be carried out?
The Papuan People's Congress prefers a peaceful
struggle. The President has opened himself up to
dialogue. The dialogue has often been bogged
down because every party has stuck by its
principles. The Papuan Presidium only wants
independence and the government only wants to
give special autonomy. At present, a formula is
being worked out to produce a win-win solution.
I feel the values the Papuans are struggling for
can be achieved through special autonomy,
meaning the province holds the power and basic
rights.
To what extent are the Papuans receptive to
this idea of autonomy?
They do not accept autonomy. They only want
independence. I say that autonomy and
independence are interrelated. Autonomy is part
of the independence they are struggling for.
There is a problem because there is a difference
in perception, ideas, experiences and level of
education. What I am trying to clarify is not
easily understood, let alone approved and
accepted.
How should the idea of autonomy be promoted
then?
That is the task of Papuan Presidium. The
difficult thing is that this idea of autonomy
has to be promoted at a time when the people are
craving for independence. The Papuan Presidium
does not want to be seen as relaxing its
fighting spirit in clarifying the meaning of
special autonomy to the people. The people now
detest the word autonomy.
Are the leaders of the presidium united in
perceiving the offer of special autonomy?
Not really. They have different views. One wants
to go East, the other wants to go West. However,
what is important now is that conditions are no
longer emotive.
In your view, will the people of Irian Jaya
vote for independence or autonomy if a
referendum is held?
Based on my observations in Jayapura, I predict
there will be a greater preference for
independence. So, this is a serious matter. I
hope no one will say again that this is the wish
of a trivial
few.
Were there offers of certain positions to the
leaders of the Papuan Presidium in negotiations
you had with them?
There were no such deals. They also do not want
to speak about it for fear they will be seen as
fighting for their own interests.
What about the attempt on your life?
He is a man from Wamena. Noak is his name. At
the time, he was involved in a legal process to
restore his rights to land upon which the Dutch
had built the town of Wamena. According to
customary law, after the departure of the Dutch,
the land should have been returned to Noak's
family. He took up the case and brought it
before the National Land Agency (BPN) in
Jakarta. The case continues, without a
settlement in sight. He became extremely upset
and wanted to kill me. It happened when I was
attending a meeting at the Ministry of Home
Affairs. The police detained him but I
asked them to release him. I gave him some
money. I had no idea what he was going through.
I later explained to him that his land had
become state land. Now he has become a good
friend. Every time I am in Jayapura, he comes to
see me, even though he lives in Wamena. (MHU) Back
to Menu
---------------
Monday October 23 3:07 AM ET.
Rebels
Step Up Struggle in Indonesia.
By Daniel
Cooney, Associated Press Writer.
JAYAPURA, Indonesia
(AP) - Armed with little more than bows and
arrows, spears and a fierce longing for freedom,
tribesmen in Indonesia's Irian Jaya province
have been fighting for independence for 37
years.
They have attacked
government buildings and killed hundreds of
soldiers andpolice officers.
But their struggle won
them little under former dictator Suharto, who
hit back at the rebels with an iron fist,
killing many andjailing others in the province
covering the western half of New Guinea island.
Suharto was forced from
office two years ago, though, and with the
year-old democratic government in Jakarta
distracted by separatist and religious fighting
in other regions, Irian Jaya's insurgents are
stepping up their battle to secede.
Bloody clashes with
security forces have increased in recent months
as the rebels defy a government ban and raise
their ``Morning Star'' independence flags in
dozens of towns and villages.
Living in dense jungles
and rugged mountains, Irian Jaya's people have
had little exposure to the outside world. Many
of the 2 million tribesmen - a tiny fraction of
Indonesia's 210 million population - live a
nearly Stone Age existence. They hunt crocodiles
and wild boar, and speak at least 200 local
languages. Unlike the mainly Muslim rest of
Indonesia, most villagers are Christians,
although many in remote areas still practice
traditional animist religions.
The mineral-rich
province is home to one of the world's largest
gold mines, run by Louisiana-based Freeport
McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. But
separatistscomplain that the indigenous people
see little of the wealth gained from their
natural resources.
Indonesia occupied the
region, a former Dutch colony, in 1963. Its
sovereignty was formalized in 1969 through a
referendum of village chiefs, but
pro-independence activists said the vote was
rigged and have been battling Indonesian rule
ever since.
Suharto encouraged
people from other heavily populated Indonesian
islands tomigrate to Irian Jaya in an attempt to
counterbalance the indigenous separatists. The
move only galvanized the rebel movement as
locals saw newcomers as depriving them of work
and education.
Following the fall of
Suharto's 32-year regime in 1998, Jakarta's
attitude toward its distant province
softened.President Abdurrahman Wahid, who came
to power as a democratic reformer last fall,
promised the province greater autonomy and a
larger share of revenue from the exploitation of
its abundant natural resources. He also reined
in the military after it was accused of human
rights abuses.
But instead of
appeasing the independence activists, the
changes emboldenedthem. At a six-day congress in
Jayapura, the provincial capital, 501 tribal
leaders declared independence in June, named
their homeland West Papua and called on the
world to recognize their sovereignty.
Across the region,
people pulled down the Indonesian flag and
raised the red, blue and white ``Morning
Star."
The move enraged
Jakarta and national political leaders demanded
Wahid crush the independence movement. The
president resisted, and instead met with
separatist leaders to try calm rising tensions.
But the talks failed and violence erupted
earlier this month.
Up to 40 people were
killed in fighting at Wamena in the province's
remote highlands after security forces pulled
down separatist flags. A few of the dead were
rebels, but most were settlers from elsewhere in
Indonesia, killed by rebel arrows and machetes.
``Indonesia has raped
our homeland and put us in slavery,'' said Alex
Baransano,a separatist leader. ``Our land is
rich, but we are poor. What else can we do but
fight for our freedom.''
He said that since the
latest bloodshed, thousands of people have
signed up to fight for independence. American
Protestant missionaries say many indigenous
people see independence as their path out of
poverty.
A little over a week
ago, Wahid's administration formally banned the
flying of ``Morning Star'' flags, raising the
prospect of more bloodshed. But after the
separatists vowed to ``die until the last man''
defending the rebel banner, the government
backed down and is trying to arrange another
round of talks. Back to
Menu
|
Financial
Times (London)
Police ordered 'shoot to kill' in Indonesian
separatist riots
By Tom McCawley in Jakarta. Published: October
8 2000 16:57GMT | Last Updated: October 8 2000
18:11GMT
Tempo
Interaktif
Wamena Riots in Irian Jaya Province: Wamena
Calls for Volunteer Doctors 9 Oct 2000 17:13:3
WIB
Monday,
October 9 2:36 PM SGT. Shops re-open as calm
returns to riot-torn Indonesian city
JAKARTA, Oct 9 (AFP)
Tempo
Magazine. Regions NO. 32/XXIX/ October 9 - 15,
2000 Wamena
Bintang
Kejora Masih Berkibar Hanya Gus Dur Yang Bisa
Laran. koridor.com [21 Oct, 0:00]
SITUASI
MANOKWARI. 23 Oktober 20 oleh Yophi W. Weyasu
Monday,
October 23 2:04 PM SGT. Migrants trapped in
Irian Jaya hinterland. JAKARTA, Oct 23 (AFP)
Indonesian
Observer. Tuesday, Oktober 24 - 2000. Rebels
funded by foreign groups
Monday,
October 23 6:23 PM SGT. Indonesian security
minister blasts Papua separatists. JAKARTA,
Oct 23 (AFP)
The
Jakarta Post.com. Latest News. October 24,
2000. Papuan Task Force told to stop
military training
Tempo
Magazine. Interview NO. 34/XXIX/ October 23 -
29, 2000. Barnabas Suebu: "They Only
Want Independence"
Monday
October 23 3:07 AM ET. Rebels Step Up
Struggle in Indonesia. By Daniel Cooney,
Associated Press Writer.
Why were you appointed by President
Abdurrahman Wahid to negotiate between the
government and the Papuan Presidium?
|
