Indonesian Observer
Thursday, November 16 - 2000
Kostrad troops bound for Irian Jaya

MAKASSAR (IO) About 1,300 troops in the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) yesterday departed from South Sulawesi to the rebellious province of Irian Jaya (West Papua).

Military officials said the deployment merely aims to reinforce troops who are already maintaining order in the easternmost province, where a rebel movement has upped its demands for independence this year.

"We are prepared to defend national sovereignty, because that's our main duty,=94 Major Putranto, leader of almost 600 of the troops, said before the departure.

It won't be the first time Putranto has served in Irian Jaya. He was there six months ago.

The troops are traveling on two vessels, the KRI Teluk Bone and KRI Teluk Langsa. Colonel Irwan Kusnadi, chief of the infantry unit, led a farewell ceremony for the elite soldiers.

Irwan denied the deployment of the troops is a "show of force". He said it is merely part of Kostrad's state duty to protect national integrity.

"Specifically, the presence of the troops will aim to safeguard national unity that has been maintained for dozens of years," he said, apparently forgetting East Timor's secession from Indonesia last year.

Irwan said the tasks facing the Kostrad personnel are not easy. The troops will often be involved in "social matters" but will be neutral while carrying out their duties, he added.

Autonomy explanation
A legislator from Irian Jaya, Simon Patrice Morin, yesterday said growing calls for independence and conflicts between security officers and natives could be overcome if the government accommodates the aspirations of the province's people.

He said the most important thing is that there must be a serious attempt to prevent possible conflicts from emerging between natives and transmigrants in the easternmost province.

"There must be no horizontal conflicts in that region. Once a horizontal conflict appears, it would be hard to heal," Morin told the Observer after attending a meeting at parliament.

He said all groups in Irian Jaya must hold talks to prevent deadly unrest. "A peace movement must be encouraged to proceed in  society."

Building peace would strengthen existing social capital, he said, adding that conflicts will be difficult to overcome.

Morin expressed regret that some members of the political elite have rejected efforts by beleaguered President Abdurrahman Wahid to mollify the separatists in Irian Jaya.

Wahid had allowed the Papuan Council Presidium to hoist its Morning Star flag. But Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said only the national
red-and-white flag should be flown.

Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amien Rais has remarked that if the government fails to manage conflict in the region, it could perhaps follow East Timor's example and secede from Indonesia.

Morin plans to go to Irian Jaya for about one month in an effort to find out the genuine aspirations of Irian Jaya's residents.

He said that as a legislator he would explain the government's offer of regional autonomy to locals and provide them with details of the advantages it will give them.

Morin said the people of resource-rich Irian Jaya need not seek independence, as they will be able to gain anything they want once regional autonomy is implemented. "Independence is just a political aspect. Through regional autonomy, residents could get anything."

He called on the political elite not to make statements that will exacerbate the problems in Irian Jaya.

"Words could create either peace or destruction," he said, quoting Czech leader Vaclav Havel.
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DetikWorld.com
Wednesday, 11/15/2000
2 More Kostrad Batallions Sent To Papua
Reporter: Abdul Haerah HR / Hendra & GB
detikworld Makassar

Wirabuana VII Military Area Command has again sent 2 battalions of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) soldiers to Irian Jaya, ostensible to protect those who feel threatened by the growing
independence movement.

Battalion 431 and 433, as many as 2000 personnel, were sent off from the IV Main Naval Base (Lantamal) in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Wednesday (15/11/2000). Family members lined the wharves to wave the troops good-bye.

The "green beret" troops were sent on the Teluk Bone warship. They were full equipped and armed. According to the commander of Battalion 431, Maj. AM Putranto, the deployment came in response to
the demands of local people.

"The people there felt threatened with the uncertain security conditions," said Putranto. This deployment brings to three the number of battalions sent by the Wirabuana Military Command to Irian in the last six last months. "All of it was in response to the people's requests," he reiterated.

The deployment also coincides with the approach of the December 4 anniversary of the declaration of independence. Separatists have set early December as the deadline for the Indonesian government to
recognise their demands for independence. President Abdurrahman Wahid has given a permission for the commemorations as long as there is no demand to separate from Jakarta.

Tensions in Indonesia's eastern-most province, as in the west in the case of Aceh, have been growing in recent months. In the town of Wamena on October 6, police shot dead several people protesting against efforts to pull down the "Morning Star" flag, a symbol of the separatist movement. More than 38 people, mainly Javanese migrants, were killed in ensuing rioting. An uneasy stand-off has prevailed ever since and the "Morning Star" is still flying in several places in the provincial capital, Jaya Pura. Indonesia opposes independence for Irian Jaya, referred to by separatists as West Papua.