Saturday, June 01, 2002 09:11:10 PM

WASIOR BRACES FOR AN IMMINENT MILITARY OPERATION

Wasior area was in tense mood again this time of the month after an apparent failed negotiation mediated by Fornas (National Human rights Forum) to peacefully return the police guns seized by the TPN/OPM (independence fighters), ELSHAM Papua source reported from Manokwari. 20 Brimob 
(mobile brigade) members are poised for an imminent strike as it is learned that TPN/OPM refused to accept negotiation deals for the return of the SS1 guns they seized from Brimob in Wombu village on 13 June 2001.

As signalled earlier by a Fornas member, G M Satya, in a joint meeting with members of provincial House of Representatives, that if persuasive measures fail then force would be inevitable.

ELSHAM source in Manokwari informed on Wednesday (29 May) that Fornas negotiating team had returned to Manokwari from Wasior a week earlier. Mediation had been also made by Mr. Kurube, Wasior church leader, but to no avail. Mr Kurube told Brimob Commander, Max Betaubun, that the local Wasior people have no dealings of any kind with the TPN/OPM.

When contacted on Wednesday (29 May) Head of Papua police, IrJen Drs. Made Mangku Pastika said he had ordered Manokwari Head of police to execute an operation in Wasior to get the lost guns back. Mr Pastika, however, reminded Brimob to always exercise persuasive approach before resorting to use of force.

ELSHAM Papua in Manokwari also reported on the on going “ID Cards sweeping operation” conducted by Brimob in Wasior, started at the beginning of this May.

Renewed tension was felt in Wasior area since December 2001 following armed civilians led by Martin Pasik and Otis Koridama (Operation Commanders) strengthened their forces around Ambumi village where military style exercises were reported to have taken place involving civilians. Local civilians were threatened and forced to join these military exercises. This is taken 
by Brimob and others that the local civilians are siding with the TPN/OPM. And when the military operation does take place then there is no guarantee that civilians will be spared as what occurred at the start.

12 people were dead, 144 arrested and tortured, 26 declared missing, while 55 houses burnt to the ground when the Wasior incident broke out on 31 March 2001.@

*ELSHAM NEWS SERVICE provides regular reports and information on social and political development and their implication on Human Rights situation and democracy in Papua. The reports and information provided are obtained from ELSHAM PAPUA local, national and international networks. Those interested in subscribing to this service are advised to register to ELSHAM PAPUA. 
Please provide complete information (Name of institution/ or individual; address, etc). ELSHAM PAPUA is a human right organization with a mission to eliminate militarism, impunity, and to promote Human Rights and democracy education for the people of Papua. ELSHAM PAPUA was founded on 5 May 1998.