South China Morning Post
Tuesday, October 31, 2000
Indonesia. Activist warns of further violence
Associated Press in Canberra  - Updated at 3.40pm

Violence in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya could escalate if the government does not agree to hold talks with independence movement leaders by December, an activist said on Tuesday.

John Koknak, a leader of the Free Papua Movement, said independence fighters wanted a peaceful end to a long-running conflict in the half-island province.

But he said renewed violence was the only option for the independence movement if the Indonesian government ignored a December 1 deadline the movement's leaders had set for progress toward talks on self-determination.

''Our demand is very clear, we just want independence,'' Mr Koknak said during a visit to Australia to stir support for the cause.

''The people of West Papua have no other choice. They're fed up,'' he said.

''The choice is to fight. I will be very sorry to see it, but if the thing is not progressing we might be forced to take up arms again.''

Mr Koknak, a commander with an armed wing of the independence group, urged the Australian government and the United Nations to back a plan to open talks between Irian Jaya leaders and the Indonesian government, which would lead to a self-determination vote by the territory's 1.8 million residents.

Irian Jaya, also known as West Papua, is Indonesia's gold and mineral-rich easternmost province. It occupies the western half of Papua island north of Australia. The eastern half is Papua New Guinea, and native Irian Jayans share a Melanesian heritage with their neighbours.

Irian Jayan independence fighters, mostly tribesmen from mountain villages, have for 37 years fought a low-level war against Indonesia, which has responded by killing or jailing many activists and banning public displays of the movement's flag.

The independence movement received rare international recognition last weekend from the Pacific Island Forum.

The grouping of South Pacific states in the final communique of its annual summit urged both sides to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The statement also recognised Indonesian sovereignty over Irian Jaya.