Subject: (PINA) Papua fear as Megawati tells troops not to worry about rights 

http://www.pacificislands.cc/pm122001/pinadefault.cfm?pinaID=3369 

WEST PAPUA: Papua fear as Megawati tells troops not to worry about rights

Sunday: December 30, 2001 

Jakarta (PINA Nius Online, 30 December 2001)

President Megawati Soekarnoputri yesterday urged Indonesia's armed forces to maintain the country's integrity and not be hindered by fear of committing human rights abuses, reports said.

The statement will bring increased worries to the independence movement in Indonesian-ruled West Papua.

Indonesia rules the resource-rich territory bordering Papua New Guinea as its province of Irian Jaya and the military have been accused of widespread human rights abuses there.

Megawati told top commanders and thousands of troops at a military parade in Jakarta to respect the law in the course of their duties, the Jakarta Post reported.

But it added that she also said: "With that as your guide, you can do your duty without worrying about being involved in human rights abuses."

Military chiefs have often complained that fear of violating human rights was preventing soldiers from cracking down on so-called troublemakers in Indonesia's numerous conflict zones such as West Papua.

On Thursday, army commander General Endriartono Sutarto said his men's morale was low because of media attention on their alleged abuses, the Jakarta Post said.

Megawati, a nationalist whose rise to power in July was supported by the military brass, said the vast archipelagic country needed the army to stop it from disintegrating, the Jakarta Post said.

"Suddenly we are aware ... of the need of a force to protect our beloved nation and motherland from breaking up," said Megawati, who wore a military style uniform for the occasion.

After addressing the parade, which commemorated a key battle in the 1945-1949 war against Dutch colonial forces, Megawati witnessed a display of military hardware.

At the ceremonies the military commander overseeing Irian Jaya, Maj. Gen. Mahidin Simbolon, said the military had not ordered the assassination of pro-independence Papuan leader Theys Hiyo Eluay.

"All army units posted in the Trikora military command are loyal to me as their commander," Simbolon said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

The police, he said, were questioning seven army personnel in connection with the murder. The military had allowed the police to quiz any personnel considered key witnesses in the case, he said.

"We regularly receive reports from Irian Jaya Police on witnesses, legal facts and other findings, so that any confusion or speculation on the army's involvement in Theys' death can soon be cleared," Simbolon said.

He further reiterated that the military had helped the police to find evidence and witnesses. A team of investigators arrived in the province on Friday.

Theys was found dead in early November after he had been reportedly kidnapped by an unidentified group on his way home from a national hero ceremony at a local military headquarters.

Meanwhile, the military police have also expressed their readiness to help the police to investigate Theys' murder, the Jakarta Post said.

"Last week we received a request from the police and so far, there is no reluctance (to help the police). We will join with the national commission of investigation," Commander of the Military Police Maj. Gen. Djasri Marin said.

West Papua was colonised by the Dutch. In the 1960s the Indonesians, who had won their own independence from Dutch colonial rule, began fighting to gain control of it from the Dutch.

The province was officially taken over by the Indonesians following a controversial 1969 referendum after the departure of the Dutch following American pressure.

Pro-independence West Papuans call the referendum a sham and say only a small number of men who were intimidated by the Indonesian military were allowed to take part.

Indonesian governments have since encouraged the transmigration east of mainly Muslim Asian migrants from its crowded main islands to West Papua. West Papuans are mainly Melanesian and Christian.

PINA Nius Online.