Date: 1/10/01 5:54:52 PM Central Standard Time
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National News
All Casa Passengers Die
Wednesday, January 10, 2001/12:13:50 PM
Wamena, Irian Jaya, Jan 10 (ANTARA)

The search and rescue (SAR) team on the Indonesian Navy=92s Casa
NC-212, which had been reported missing since Monday (Jan 8) in
Irian Jaya, on Wednesday morning has located the ill-fated aircraft
at the Silimo village in Purima subdistrict, Jayawijaya district,
Irian Jaya.

The team also found all the people on board dead.

The aircraft carried the chief of the Trikora military command and
ranking officials of Irian Jaya province.

None of the dead victims has been successfully evacuated as yet due
to the bad weather.

The rescue team was led by the Trikora regional military command=92s
intelligence assistant Colonel (Infantry) Armin Tony and consisted
of personnel from the Air Force=92s special unit, elite force, Irian
Jaya police=92s mobile brigade and Gorontalo 712 batallion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Virtual NewYork
Missing Indonesian plane found
Wednesday, 10 January 2001 2:11 (ET)

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Rescue teams fought slippery
mountain slopes Wednesday in an effort to recover the bodies of at
least nine people killed after their Indonesian navy plane slammed
Monday into a dense jungle in bad weather.

Lt. Col. Andre Iskandar, head of Irian Jaya's Wamena airport, said
10 bodies were discovered at the crash site. But Capt. Priyo
Purwoko from the rescue post center in Wamena said only nine people
were aboard the doomed aircraft.

Purwoko said rescue teams had discovered six bodies and were
continuing their search for three others. Among those who died in
the crash were Maj. Gen. Tonny Rompis, head of Irian Jaya's
military command, provincial police chief Insp. Gen. Sumardi and
Irian Jaya's regional house speaker Nathaniel Kaiway.

Also on board were three local government officials and five crew
members.

Rescue teams discovered early Wednesday the wreckage of the
CASA-212 plane in a steep mountain slope area at 11,800-feet
altitude, making it difficult for helicopters to get closer to the
location.

The recovery of the bodies could also be hampered by bad weather

"Rescue teams are trying to set up a helipad at a nearby area in
order to facilitate the evacuation of the victims," said Irian
Jaya police spokesman, Commissioner Zulkifli. "Search is also
underway for the three people who are still missing."

The CASA-212 plane was reported missing Monday only minutes after
it left the mining town of Timika for the provincial capital,
Jayapura.

The exact cause of the crash was not known. But military officials
said earlier that the plane is believed to have crashed in bad
weather. The plane had been scheduled to fly directly from Timika
to Jayapura, but was re-directed through Wamena due to bad weather.
-- Copyright 2000 by United Press International.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
1/10/2001 11:52:20 AM
Evacuation of Irian Jaya crash victims to resume Thursday

JAKARTA (JP): Bad weather hampered the evacuation of the bodies of
the passengers and crew of the Navy plane which crashed in Irian
Jaya on Monday, forcing a joint search and rescue operation to halt
its efforts on Wednesday.

Search and rescue workers found the wreckage of the twin-turboprop
Indonesian-built CASA NC-212 aircraft on a steep slope on Wednesday
morning at around 6 a.m.

The evacuation was halted due to thick clouds and cold weather,
with the temperature dropping to 5 degrees Celsius. Eight members
of the joint search and rescue team will resume the operation on
Thursday morning, Antara reported.

The search and rescue team has so far identified five of the
bodies. They are Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Tonny A.
Rompis; Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. F.X. Sumardi; provincial
legislative council speaker Nataniel Kaiway; the adjutant to the
governor, police Sgt. Maj. Jeheskia Z. Malu; and the plane's pilot,
Maj. Sutopo Waluyo.

Lieutenant Colonel Seno, the head of the intelligence detachment of
the Trikora Military Command, which is taking part in the search
and rescue operation, confirmed that all of the passengers and crew
of the aircraft perished in the crash.

A helicopter carrying members of the search and rescue team managed
to land at the crash site at around 9:15 a.m. The bodies of the
victims were found lying among the debris of the destroyed plane.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
President Wahid Expresses Condolences To Casa NC-212 Victims
Wednesday, January 10, 2001/12:44:14 PM
Bandung, Jan 10 (ANTARA)

President Abdurrahman Wahid here Wednesday expressed his deep
condolences to the victims of the Indonesian Navy=92s Casa NC-212,
which fell in Jayawijaya district, Irian Jaya on Wednesday morning
after being reported missing since Monday (Jan 8).

On the occasion to deliver a speech at a get-together between the
Indonesian Ulemas Council and the 1945 Generation exponents at the
Merdeka Building here, President Wahid said that he had been
confirmed by the Indonesian Defense Force (TNI)`s Chief Adm. Widodo
AS and National Police Chief General S Bimantoro that all the
passengers and crew members of the Casa NC-212 died in the
accident.

President Wahid immediately asked the participants of the
get-together to pray for the dead victims.

The NC-212 aircraft carried nine people, namely Trikora military
command chief Major General Tonny Rompies, Irian Jaya Police Chief
Inspector General FX Soemardi, Chief of Irian Jaya public
prosecutor Bismar Mannu, Chairman of Irian Jaya legislative council
Nathaniel Kaywai, and governor adjutant Jitmau.

The aircraft was piloted by Captain Sutopo Waluyo, co-piloted by
First Lieutenant Dedy Haryanto, and assisted by four other crew
members.

The ill-fated Casa NC-212 plane was found on Wednesday morning at
the Silimo village in Purima subdistrict, in Jayawijaya district.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DetikWorld
Tuesday, 01/09/2001
Governor Pushes For Special 'Irian Jaya' Style Autonomy
Reporter: Hestiana Dharmastuti / Fitri & GB
detikworld =96 Jakarta

Members of the current government of Indonesia=92s eastern-most
province of Irian Jaya have called for their own brand of special
provincial autonomy following the imposition of Legislation No. No
22/1999 and No 25/1999.

"We want to utilise special autonomy. Since it is called special
autonomy, there should be something special to be achieved," said
Governor of Irian Jaya JP Solossa to reporters at the Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Regional Autonomy on Jl Medan Merdeka Utara,
Central Jakarta, Tuesday (9/1/2001).

JP Salossa was in Jakarta to attend a meeting with the Ministry and
other government agencies on the gradual implementation of regional
autonomy which began at the beginning of the month. The same call
for =91special=92 regional autonomy was also voiced by Indonesia=92s
rebellious northern-most province of Aceh.

"We are ready to make use of special autonomy. In addition, in the
implementation of regional autonomy, we will adjust with the
policies of the central government. We are in the middle of
preparing the concept of special autonomy and spreading it within
society," Solossa explained.

Solossa also said the =91specialness=92 they were after included even
greater authority to manage the provincial finances than that
proscribed for other provinces under the regional autonomy plans.

"Legislation No 25/1999 only stipulates about percentages, we want
the authority (to manage the funds-ed.) invested in the central
government to be shifted to the provincial authorities. Including
authority to manage tax because the province needs a lot of money,"
the Governor said.

"We also request special authority over things special to the
province, like traditions of society and leadership (hak adat),
customary land rights (hak ulayat) and religion. However, it does
not have to be similar to Aceh in terms of the application of
religion in certain fields. Nevertheless, at least there (should
be) development policies coloured by religion. For example, all
public activities and mass mobilisations should not be allowed on
Sunday," said Solossa.

Solossa admitted that it has been difficult to implement regional
autonomy in the hinterland province because it has not been
discussed seriously. "However, we have an agreement to carry out an
academic study on January 23 and 25 involving Cendrawasih
University and experts on regional autonomy," he added.

The boundaries within the province are also set to change, said
Solossa. The province is to be divided into three provinces
sometime in the near future and Solossa said the number of
provinces would probably increase again after five years.

Efforts by the central government to introduce regional autonomy
have been driven by a reaction in the provinces against the
authoritarian, corrupt and centralist state model enforced by the
former regime of president Suharto who was forced from power in May
1998.

Provinces such as Aceh and West Papua (Irian Jaya) are also home to
strong independence movements born of bloody confrontations with
the Indonesian military and economic repression. The provincial
governments of these two provinces have thus been promised even
greater power over their affairs.

However, there is much confusion over the basic mechanisms of
regional autonomy and the particulars of the special autonomy for
Papua and Aceh are even less clear. It is also unclear if the
compromise on their special status will please the ordinary people,
given that calls for independence grow and the current provincial
officials are not generally considered as representatives of the
majority of people=92s aspirations.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
New Zealand To Assist Development In Irian Jaya
Wednesday, January 10, 2001/12:31:18 AM
Jayapura, Jan 10 (ANTARA)

The New Zealand government has expressed readiness to contribute to
the economic development of the people in Irian Jaya.

The New Zealand government assistance will be provided under a
cooperation in the economic recovery in Irian Jaya where most
people are still living below the poverty line.

New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Michael Green said here Tuesday
he was in Irian Jaya to observe how far the economy in the region
has progressed and the economic condition of the local population.

Michael Green in the company of Colonel Neville Reilly and the
ambassador`s secretary Philip Taula was greeted by Deputy Governor
Costant Karma upon arrival at the Gedung Negara Angkasa in Jayapura
on Tuesday.

According to Michael Green, the development of the easternmost
province was still far from expectations, and therefore needed
government attention.

Green said his country was ready to help the Irian Jaya provincial
administration but would first study the most suirable kind of help
the local population may urgently need.

Michael Green made it clear that his visit to several places in
Irian Jaya is completely void of any political motives and is the
realisation of a cooperation between the governments of the two
countries.

Ambassador Green also planned to visit other provinces in the
country for inputs on the development prospects of the local
peoples.

He will later report the results of the visits to his government
for consideration of development assistance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday January 09 08:02 AM EST
A chaotic launch of regional autonomy
By John Aglionby in Jakarta. eCountries writer

The Indonesian government has devolved a number of government
powers from Jakarta to the provinces and districts. The aim is to
detangle the heavily centralized central government and give the
country's outer fringes some control over their fate. But for the
moment, chaos - not control - appears to be the only dividend.

The new year was supposed to mark a new dawn in the lives of
Indonesia's 200m people. After decades of repression by the heavily
centralized government in Jakarta, meaningful power in all areas
except defense, monetary affairs and foreign policy was devolved to
provincial and district level at a stroke on January 1. People
living in the archipelago's outer fringes - that is, most of the
population - would at last be able to shape their own futures
according to their particular needs, making it much harder for the
country to slip back into an autocracy. Or at least that was the
theory. The reality is an incomplete and chaotic mess.

The local press is littered with quotes from local officials along
the lines of: "We're a bit confused about the implementation of
that regulation," and "We haven't got clear guidelines from Jakarta
on that yet". Yet such shocking confessions are perfectly
understandable considering that more than 150 of the 177 decrees
governing regional autonomy have yet to be passed and almost 99% of
the 2.6m civil servants that were meant to be transferred from
central to regional government posts have yet to pack their bags.
More gloss came off the transition process on January 2 after the
minister who designed the scheme, Ryaas Rasyid, tendered his
resignation, citing irreconcilable differences with the president,
Abdurrahman Wahid.

The consequence of this turmoil is inconsistency. To manage the
muddle, local authorities are either making up their own rules -
which are likely to changed once formal regulations are in place -
or doing nothing until the mist has cleared in the capital. A good
example, according to one foreign consultant advising the
government, is comparing the health and education ministries. "In
Jakarta health and education are going in very different directions
while the finance ministry, which controls the purse strings, is
pulling them in a third," he said. "This leaves provincial and
district officials not knowing which way to turn."

In the mayhem, the delivery of government services is threatening
to grind to a halt. "This is our biggest fear," said the foreign
adviser. "Unless the fundamental problems are addressed rapidly,
government will effectively stop, which is extremely dangerous in a
country where so much is still nationalized."

Other worries concern money. Some people worry about a growing
imbalance in spending and revenue. This would stem not only from
poor preparations but also arguments over the share of resources
remaining in the regions. Currently, districts - the level to which
most power is being devolved - will get about 15% of oil revenues,
30% of earnings from natural gas and 80% from mining and forestry.
But many resource-rich areas are fighting to get a larger share.

Others worry that instead of having one corrupt government there
will now be 350. And corruption is going to be much harder to
contain, particularly as those in power have little direct
accountability towards the people. District councilors are not
directly elected and the administration chiefs will only be
indirectly elected after the retirement of current incumbents.
Certain industries, such as forestry (where illegal logging
accounts for 80% of total production), are already suffering from
widespread corruption and set to get worse.

There are a few glimmers of good news around. At the highest level
of government there does at last seem to be a commitment to speedy
and correct implementation of the plan. And at the grassroots
level, civil society groups are starting to find their voice,
thanks to the tens of millions of dollars in foreign aid that have
been channeled into their development. This means a system of
checks and balances could start to evolve once the initial
transitional dust has settled.

There is no going back now, according to government expert Andi
Mallarangeng, because "despite the chaos we've come too far
already." But he fears that the authorities in Jakarta are losing
sight of the whole raison d'etre of the devolution process. "One of
the main aims of regional autonomy is for the government to
recapture the trust of the people and the local administrations,"
he said. "But unless the government wakes up to the current reality
they will quickly lose everyone's trust forever."
--John Aglionby reports from Southeast Asia for The Guardian (UK).

Date: 1/9/01 6:45:49 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Tuesday, January 9 6:30 PM SGT
Search efforts to investigate smoke sign on Irian Jaya mountain
JAKARTA, Jan 9 (AFP)

A missionary plane searching for a navy aircraft that went missing
with 11 people including provincial leaders aboard, spotted smoke
in a jungle-clad mountain area of Indonesia's Irian Jaya province
Tuesday, a search and rescue official said.

"A MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) plane saw smoke coming from
the jungle between Kenian, Giani and Obio," Captain Priyo Purwoko
of the Search and Rescue Coordination Center in the highland town
of Wamena told AFP.

"Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will investigate the area," he said.

Purwoko said the MAF airplane had retraced the possible routes on
the central mountain range, landing at at least four spots to ask
local villagers whether they had sighted the airplane on Monday.

In Kenian and Giani, southwest of Wamena, villagers told the pilot
they had seen the plane pass, but in Obio, no one had seen or heard
it.

"The smoke could be from anything, and we will only investigate it
tomorrow," Purwoko said.

He said however, that on the advice of the local tribesmen, a
traditional ceremony will be held first before the investigation
will proceed.

"It is not that we believe in such things, but we have to respect
the local custom and beliefs," he said.

The Indonesian-assembled Casa N-212 navy plane went missing while
on a flight from the mining city of Timika in the southwest of
Irian Jaya, to Jayapura, the capital of the province some 475
kilometres (295 miles) to the northeast.

The plane was carrying a crew of five and six passengers, including
the chiefs of the provincial police, military, and prosecutor's
office, as well as the province's house speaker.

Police said the plane last made voice contact with the airport
tower at Jayapura's Sentani airbase at 11:00 am (0200 GMT) on
Monday, about an hour before its scheduled arrival, but the pilot
just checked on weather and gave no details of the airplane's
location.

Search efforts on Tuesday had been concentrated on the area south
of Wamena.

They involved two army helicopters, and another from the private
air charter company Airfast as well as two MAF Cessnas.

National police spokesman Brigadier General Saleh Saaf said earlier
Tuesday that if the plane had crashed, hopes of finding it were
dim.

"We are very pessimistic. In Irian Jaya's central highlands when a
plane crashes it's never found again, rarely ever found again,"
Saaf said.

Military spokesman Air Vice Marshall Graito Usodo said the
possibility of the plane having been sabotaged was "very small."

He also said there was still "no evidence" that the plane had
crashed.

The mountains of Irian Jaya, Indonesia's easternmost province, are
littered with the skeletons of crashed World War II planes, many of
which were never found until years after the war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BBC
Tuesday, 9 January, 2001, 10:31 GMT
'Plane wreck' spotted in Indonesia
By Richard Galpin in Jakarta

Indonesian officials have said a search and rescue team has spotted
what could be the wreckage of a military plane which went missing
on Monday in the remote eastern province of Irian Jaya.

A plane belonging to a missionary organisation taking part in the
search operation is reported to have seen possible debris near the
central town of Wamena.

The missing plane was carrying the provincial military and police
chiefs, as well as the speaker of the local parliament.

A military spokesman has said it was extremely unlikely that the
plane was sabotaged by separatists.

Rebels fighting for independence in Irian Jaya have only primitive
weapons and are not well organised.

Rugged area
So far there has been no confirmation that the plane has been
found.

Wamena is in the highland region of Irian Jaya, with peaks of
almost 5,000m close by.

Other military rescue teams, using helicopters and light aircraft,
have also focused their efforts around this remote and rugged area.

Poor weather
The small aircraft was flying from the southern town of Timuka back
to the provincial capital in the north when air traffic controllers
lost contact on Monday afternoon.

Weather conditions were poor at the time.

While officials still classify the plane as missing, it is highly
likely it has crashed and those on board been killed.

The possibility of it having made an emergency landing has now been
all but ruled out.

A military spokesman told the BBC that both the police and military
commanders on board had been carrying satellite phones, but there
had been no contact since the plane disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
MAF PILOT Spots Signals In Jayawijaya Hinterlands
Tuesday, January 09, 2001/1:51:04 PM
Wamena, Irian Jaya, Jan 9 (ANTARA)

A pilot making an aerial search for the missing Cassa aircraft of
the Indonesian Navy, spotted smoke and white light from an
uninhabited area in Jayawijaya district, Irian Jaya province at
8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Rick Willem of the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) said that
aside from the smoke and the white light, which he assumed to be
coming from a mirror, he also saw people on the ground trying to
make signals.

He said he reported what he saw to the search and rescue team in
Wamena, which sent a helicopter to the site.

The team, led by Brig Gen Karel Ralahalu of the Trikora regional
military command, had earlier mobilized six aircraft of different
types to search for the missing airplane.

The Cassa aircraft went missing at about 11 a.m. Monday on its
flight from Timika to Jayapura.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
Mily Rules Out Sabotage In Disappearance Of Navy Aircraft
Tuesday, January 09, 2001/4:51:09 PM
Jakarta, Jan 9 (ANTARA)

The Indonesian military has ruled out sabotage in the disappearance
of a Navy aircraft carrying ranking military officers and
provincial officials in Irian Jaya on Monday.

There is little chance that the aircraft was sabotaged, military
spokesman, Maj Gen Graito Usodo, said here Tuesday.

Usodo noted that there are a number of factors to be considered if
the aircraft crashed, such as human or technical error, or the
weather.

"Our focus now is to find the aircraft," he added.

Search for the Indonesian-assembled Cassa aircraft has been
intensified after a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) pilot spotted
smoke and a white light in the Mapenduma area.

Meanwhile, head of the National Search and Rescue Team, Soetarto
Rahardjo, said they will continue the search for the missing
aircraft without setting any deadline.

"We will search for it until we find it," Rahardjo said.

The ill-fated aircraft took off from Timika airport in Mimika
subdistrict at 10:25 a.m. on Monday on its way to Jayapura.

It was carrying Trikora military command chief Maj Gen Tonny
Rompis, Irian Jaya Police chief Inspector Gen FX Soemardi, Irian
Jaya=92s chief public prosecutor Bismar Mannu, chief of the
provincial legislative assembly Nataniel Kaywai, and five crew
members.

The search and rescue team has mobilized an Army helicopter, a PT
Freeport helicopter, two Navy Nomads, and two MAF helicopters.

Rahardjo noted that based on unanswered telephone calls made to
Irian Jaya Police chief Soemardi, they have traced the phone
signals to be about 120 miles from Jayapura.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Koridor.com
Search for Casa NC 212 Stopped
By Bad Weather
koridor.com [9 Jan, 16:52]

Search efforts for the missing Navy Casa NC 212 plane carrying
Irian Jaya Muspida, regional government officials, were forced to
be stopped on Tuesday (9/1)due to bad weather, thick clouds and
rain covering the Irian Jaya region.

This explanation was made by Irian Jaya Deputy Governor Constant
Karma to koridor.com when contacted at the regional police office
monitoring command post in Jayapura on Tuesday around midday.

"There has been no significant development in the search effort for
the Case plane lost since Monday yesterday, and the search is
forced to be stopped because of the bad weather," said Constant.

The Deputy Governor who has stayed overnight since Monday at the
Jayapura regional police command post explained that three
monitoring command posts have attempted their best efforts to find
traces of the plane carrying the Trikora XVII military commander,
Irian Jaya regional police chief, and chief public prosecutor, but
there have been no encouraging signs yet.

Constant who was still in the command post when contacted explained
that all-Indonesian Air Force, Army and Navy ranks have actively
assisted in the search and sweep of the Irian Jaya coastline. "But
up to the stop of the search around 12.00 noon Eastern Indonesia
Time, there has been no progress," he explained.

The search will be continued tomorrow on Wednesday morning (10/1),
said Constant. (aloysius / pl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indonesian Observer
Wednesday, January 10 - 2001
Editorial
Sad blow

A question mark hangs over the fate of Irian Jaya Military
Commander Maj. Gen. Tommy Rompis and several other high-ranking
military officers and civilians following the disappearance of a
CASA-212 aircraft carrying them on a routine inspection mission
over the mountainous jungles of Irian Jaya.

This is a sad blow not only to the province of Irian Jaya, which is
poised to restore law and order following the excesses of
separatists who continue to press for independence, but also to the
central government which has been striving to find a workable
solution to this problem, that is, without the need to secede from
Indonesia.

To date, no further information has been obtained as to the real
cause of the disaster, that is, whether or not the incident was
caused by engine trouble, or by an act of sabotage. Considering the
fact that it has taken place amid an increasingly restive
atmosphere, writhing with the clamor for independence, we must
always take account of the possibility that certain elements
sympathizing with the struggle for independence have succeeded in
infiltrating government circles. This has provided a more militant
note to their struggle.

It would be unrealistic to underestimate the effectiveness of the
struggle of the West Irian people. All kinds of help and support
might be forthcoming from various sides along the territory=92s
extensive coastline.

It must also be acknowledged that the provincial government lacks
the personnel, materiel and expertise to effectively patrol and
control the area.

We are saddened by the prospect of the loss of these high-ranking
government officials who have done their utmost to preserve law and
order in this region, and whose efforts were designed to pave the
way for a better existence for their people.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Koridor.com
Wamena Bloodshed Trial Adjourned
Irian Jaya Situation Uncertain
koridor.com [9 Jan, 13:59]

For unclear reasons, the Wamena district court adjourned the trial
of 17 suspects in connection with the recent Wamena bloodshot until
next Thursday (11/1). At first, the trial was to be convened at the
Wamena district court, Irian Jaya on Tuesday (9/1).

There was speculation that the adjournment was due to the uncertain
situation in Irian Jaya following the disappearance of the
Indonesian Navy Casa 212 plane carrying several Irian Jaya
officials, namely the Trikora military commander, Irian Jaya
regional police chief, chief public prosecutor, regional council
(DPRD) chairman and the Irian Jaya Governor's adjutant. The search
for the missing plane is still underway.

"Possibly the adjournment was made because of the uncertain
situation in Irian Jaya following the disppearance of the Casa
plane, and, indeed, the current situation here is full of doubts,
especially as the plane was carrying high officials from Irian,"
said Robert Korwa, one of the suspects' lawyers from the
Humanitarian Team for the Bloody Wamena Incident, to koridor.com in
Jayapura on Tuesday (9/1).

As previously reported, the Bloody Wamena incident on Oct. 6, 2000,
was incited by the lowering of the morning star flag by the police,
and resulted in casulaties among indigenous Papuans as well as
migrants.

Physical clashes occurred when the police forcibly lowered the
morning star flag at several Papuan Task Force command posts in
Wamena.

The suspects are charged with disturbing public order, and inciting
the masses against the state apparatus. Based on the criminal code,
the suspects face a punishment of up to five-years' imprisonment.
(aloysius / pl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday, January 9 3:56 PM SGT
Australian lawyers want to monitor separatist trial
MELBOURNE, Jan 9 (AFP)

An international legal watchdog appealed Tuesday for Indonesia to
let it send an observer to the upcoming trial of separatists in the
rebellious Indonesia state of Irian Jaya.

Australian members of the commission have asked Jakarta to be
allowed a representative at the proceedings, to be held in the
central highlands of the state, also known as West Papua.

"We are monitoring as best we can the events in West Papua, we are
proposing to send an observer to a trial that is shortly to occur
in Wamena," Justice John Dowd, a New South Wales supreme court
judge and commission member, said.

Separatist activity in Irian Jaya, a resource-rich province
covering the western half of the island of New Guinea, has been on
the increase recently, particularly in the wake of East Timor's
secession from Jakarta.

The ICJ's approach to Jakarta followed a request for a commission
representative to attend the trial by Jayapura-based human rights
organisation Elsham, an ICJ spokeswoman said.

The commission would make a formal request for an internal travel
permit within Irian Jaya as soon the trial date was known, she
said.

About 30 people face trial after local tribespeople raised the
pro-independence "Morning Star" flag in Wamena, the main town in
Irian Jaya's central Baliem Valley, last October, the spokeswoman
said.

Another 30 were killed and 45 injured -- many of them migrants from
other parts of Indonesia -- when violence erupted after police tore
down the flag.

The commission is also concerned by violence that flared after
separatists again publicly raised their flag on December 1, the
anniversary of their unrecognised independence declaration in 1961.

The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper carried an eye-witness report
Tuesday by a Swiss journalist describing the brutal torture of
Papuans at a Jayapura police station.

However commission's position is at odds with the stance adopted by
Canberra. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has warned that any
break-up of Indonesia would lead to a bloodbath.

"We understand the Minister's point of view. The Australian
government, like every other government that has recognised the
incorporation, don't want problems," Dowd said.

"We're concerned with the rule of law -- the question is 'Is an
issue right or not right?'

"We're not concerned about being popular with governments, we're
concerned with raising issues where injustice occurs."

The commission was also re-examining the 1969 United
Nations-sponsored referendum, under which Indonesia incorporated
the former Dutch colony.

Independence supporters say the 1,025 representatives who voted in
the Act of Free Choice ballot were bullied and bribed into
supporting integration with Indonesia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Koridor.com
Aceh & Irja Demand Special Autonomy
Governor Session to Discuss Autonomy
koridor.com [9 Jan, 17:55]

Aceh and Irian Jaya demand the application of special autonomy
instead of regional autonomy due to the special nature of the said
two regions.

Governor of Irian Jaya, Jacobus P Salossa and Governor of Aceh
Abdulah Puteh stated the matter prior to the commencement of
coordinating session of inter governors in Indonesia with the
Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy, Soerjadi Soedirdja
and with other ministries or governmental agencies, in the Ministry
of Home Affairs in Jakarta on Tuesday (9/1).

Present in the coordinating session are governors from 32 provinces
in Indonesia, including Governor of Irian Jaya, Aceh and DKI
Jakarta and Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy with
officials from several ministries, such as the Ministry of
Agriculture and Estate Crops, Ministerial Office of Marine
Exploration and Fishery and other governmental agencies.

The meeting discussed several issues on the regions preparedness in
implementing the regional autonomy and in preparing necessary
aspects in the framework of regional autonomy.

Governor of Irian Jaya, JP Salosa said that the application of
special autonomy for Irian Jaya is under the discussion and will be
soon socialized to the people.

"Nevertheless, in accordance with the policy from central
government, the Law No. 22 and 25 Year 1999 will be however applied
in Irian Jaya and in the meantime, we will prepare the concept of
the said special autonomy=94, he explained to the press before
attending the session.

Regarding the specialty, he said that it has not been detailed yet,
but he mentioned that the specialty would cover the tradition,
religion, customary rights and other aspects.

"Especially for the religion, the application will not be like in
Aceh but at least there will be some policies of development with
religious spirit=94 he added.

The implementation of regional autonomy in Irian Jaya will start
with the expansion of regencies and after five years the province
will be expanded to 3 provinces.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Aceh, Abdulah Puteh also said that today
the people of Aceh prefer to have a special autonomy to the
regional autonomy.

According to him, the House of Representative (DPR) is currently
processing the initiative rights by collecccting 60 members of the
House to discuss the mentioned autonomy issue.

While regarding the issue of fiscal decentralization or financial
balance between the regional and central governments, the Governor
of Aceh suggested the division of 80% for the regions and 20% for
the central government.

"We hope there will be an agreement that leads to a win-win
solution about this matter=94, he said. (fero / rs)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Date: 1/8/01 6:09:21 PM Central Standard Time
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Monday, January 8 5:58 PM SGT
Plane carrying military, police chiefs missing
JAKARTA, Jan 8 (AFP)

An Indonesian navy airplane carrying the chiefs of the Irian Jaya
military and police commands went missing over the mountainous
jungles of the easternmost province of Irian Jaya Monday, officials
said.

"The airplane left Timika for Jayapura at 10:22 am (0122 GMT) and
the Timika tower lost contact at 10:34," said an officer on duty at
the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).

Timika is a town on the western part of Irian Jaya, near the huge
Freeport gold and copper mine, while Jayapura is the capital of
Irian Jaya some 475 kilometres (295 miles) to the northeast.

"There were 10 people on board, including the provincial military
commander, the provincial police chief, the provincial chief
prosecutor and the provincial house speaker," Hendarsin said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday January 8 6:43 AM ET
Indonesian Military Plane Missing
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)

A military plane carrying 10 people, including senior army and
police officers, was reported missing Monday over dense jungle in
troubled Irian Jaya province.

Military officials said they feared that the twin-turboprop
CASA-235 aircraft had crashed.

On board were regional military commander Maj. Gen. Tonny Rompis,
provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Sumardi, three senior local
government officials and five crew members.

The plane left the mining town of Timika on a one-hour flight north
to the provincial capital of Jayapura, said police spokesman Maj.
Zulkifli, who like many uses only one name.

Radio contact from Timika was lost about 12 minutes after takeoff,
rescue officials said. Airport officials in Timika said two
helicopters searched for the missing plane before sunset and a full
air search would be launched early Tuesday. It was unclear what
caused the accident, they said.

Irian Jaya, on the western half of New Guinea and the eastern end
of the Indonesian archipelago, is one of the world's last great
tropical wildernesses with almost impenetrable rain forests and
soaring mountain ranges.

There are few roads and air travel has become the only reliable
form of transport in the mineral-rich but economically
underdeveloped region, which covers 163,000 square miles.

It is also one of several Indonesian provinces wracked by
separatist violence. Clashes between pro-independence activists and
the military have escalated in recent months. Five prominent
separatist leaders were arrested in December and charged with
subversion.

Timika, about 2,100 miles east of Jakarta, is located near one of
the world's largest gold mines operated by Louisiana-based Freeport
McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BBC
Monday, 8 January, 2001, 12:35 GMT
Military plane missing in Irian Jaya

An Indonesian military aircraft carrying top-ranking security
personnel has disappeared over the troubled Irian Jaya province.
The 10 people on board include Irian Jaya's military commander and
his police counterpart.

The plane was flying from the mining town of Timika to the
provincial capital, Jayapura, when air traffic controllers lost
contact.

Irian Jaya's governor should also have been among the passengers
but he changed planes at the last moment.

A search-and-rescue operation is under way in the province, where
separatist rebels have been active for many years.

The route from Timika to Jayapura crosses some of Indonesia's most
remote jungle and mountainous areas.

Several planes and helicopters are searching the region and two
navy warships are looking for the missing aircraft along the coast.

Flag
Irian Jaya, Indonesia's most easterly province, forms the western
half of New Guinea island and is rich in natural resources.

Separatists have been struggling for independence ever since
Indonesia took control of the former Dutch colony in 1963.

Jakarta has ruled out granting the region independence, but has
promised greater autonomy.

Troops and police in Irian Jaya have recently taken tough action
against the independence movement.

But there is no suggestion at the moment that the loss of the plane
is connected with the separatist conflict.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Headline News
January 09, 2001
Navy plane missing in Irian Jaya

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): A Navy Cassa airplane carrying top
Irianese military and civilian officials, including the provincial
police chief and Trikora Military commander, was reported missing
on a flight from Timika to the capital of Jayapura on Monday.

The plane, piloted by Maj. Sutopo Waluyo and co-pilot First Lt.
Dedi Haryanto, carried Irian Jaya Police chief Insp. Gen. F.X.
Sumardi, Trikora Military commander Maj. Gen. Tonny A. Rompis, head
of Irian Jaya Prosecutors' Office Bismar Mannu, speaker of the
provincial legislative council Nataniel Kaiway and adjutant to the
governor police Sgt. Maj. Jeheskia Z. Malu as well as five flight
crew.

Trikora Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. Siregar confirmed at
17:45 local time on Monday that the 16-seat plane number O-614
should have landed at Sentani Airport in Jayapura at 12:00 p.m.
local time, as it took off from Timika at about 10:30 a.m.

The VIP group, led by Governor JP Salossa was taken by the plane to
Enarotali, the capital of Paniai regency, to attend the
inauguration of the regency legislative council.

The group also visited the Nabire district on Friday to attend a
ceremony dedicating the Council building in Paniai regency. On
Saturday, the officials attended the dedication of Timika's new
council building.

The governor was due at an official meeting in Jakarta and left
before the Cassa plane departed with the eleven people from Timika
on Monday morning.

Head of Irian Jaya's Police Operations and Control Chief. Comr.
Kusnadi expressed hope that the plane would be able to reach the
nearby airbase for emergency landing.

"We don't know the status of the plane since the last contact with
the pilot was seven minutes after the plane took off from Timika at
10:27 a.m," officer Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone from
Jayapura.

"Seven minutes flying from Timika would reach the area around
Wamena regency or near the border of Timika regency," he said,
adding that it was customary for flights to lose signal in
mountainous areas in Irian Jaya.

"But they should have contacted us hours ago. They should have
arrived at noon," the officer said.

Kusnadi further described the weather conditions on Monday
afternoon as "unfriendly with thick cloud cover".

"If they had to make an emergency landing, there are several
options such as a small airbase in Tiom or Agimuga which belong to
missionaries," Kusnadi said.

A total of two helicopters belonging to the Army and a Cessna
airplane belonging to missionaries were deployed to search for the
missing plane on Monday.

"Actually the police chief brought with him a satellite cellular
phone. We tried calling but the line was dead. He should have
contacted us by now," Kusnadi said.

The search was called off late Monday afternoon as the weather was
quite severe.

"Tomorrow we have two additional helicopters from Freeport and
Pertamina in Sorong plus civilian airplanes in the search team,"
the officer added.

The search team will leave from Sentani airport in Jayapura at
05:30 a.m Tuesday, taking a one-hour flight to Wamena, some 290
kilometers southwest of the capital.

"We will coordinate our movements from Wamena and start sweeping
the possible route of the missing plane from there," Kusnadi added.

In Jakarta, National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Saleh Saaf said
that the last contact with the CASA plane was made by the Biak
Tower at 10:34 a.m.,"

"At the time the last contact was made, the plane must have been in
the Memberamo area of Dabra district. They were supposed to arrive
in the capital of Jayapura at 12:10 p.m."

Muljohardjo, spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, said
Bismar Mannu was appointed head of Irian Jaya Prosecutors' Office
only last December. He was once the director of corruption cases at
the Attorney General's Office.

Muljohardjo said his office had tried to contact Mannu's family,
who still reside in Pulomas area, North Jakarta, but there was no
reply. (34/35/02/edt/ylt/bby/sur)

Date: 1/5/01 5:15:27 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Koridor.com
Wamena Incident On Trial Soon
Threatened With 5 Yrs. Imprisonment
koridor.com [5 Jan, 16:39]

The trial of the bloody Wamena incident last 6 October 2000 that
was triggered by the lowering of the 'Morning Star' flag by the
Police apparatus, which resulted to the death of migrants and
primordial Papuans, is scheduled to be be staged next week at the
Wamena-Irian Jaya Court of First Instance.

As already known, this physical clash happened when the police
apparatus forced for the lowering of 'Morning Star' flag hoisted at
several post of Papua's Security Task Force in Wamena.

The case will be tried on 9 January 2001. About 17 suspects who are
primordial residents of Wamena is ready to be presented at the
first court day.

The suspects are accused of committing violations against public
orderliness and inciting public unrest. Based on the Criminal Code
Procedures, the punishment for such accusation is in the form of 5
years imprisonment.

Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Team for the People of Wamena as the
legal defense counsel of the said 17 suspects gave information that
the suspects are presently still detained in Wamena Prison.

According to Robert Korwa, one of the legal counsels of the
suspects, when the suspects were still under the detention of
Wamena Police, the suspects were tortured and abused.

"Such were the Police's revenge acts, as during the incident,
physical resistance and clash against the Police apparatus had
occurred," said robert to koridor.com today (Friday, 5/1).

Although the October 6 incident is hard to prove, the punishment
threat against the suspects is very heavy, as it is five years
imprisonment. The Humanitarian Team for the Bloody Wamena incident
is supported by LBH Papua, Elsam Papua, Jayapura Diocese, GKI and
Baptist Church. (latif / pl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of
Hawai=91i

PNG Intelligence Officers Accused Of Giving Indonesians Information
By Winis Map

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
(January 5, 2000 - The Independent/PINA Nius Online)

Papua New Guinea intelligence officers based near the border are
alleged to have passed on information about West Papuans to the
Indonesians. These concerns are raised in a confidential document
obtained by The Independent newspaper.

The document dated December 28, 2000, was issued by the Sandaun
Provincial Disaster Committee to the National Security Advisory
Committee. It contained an updated report on the situation of the
conflict in neighboring Irian Jaya (West Papua) and the
corresponding spillover effects faced by Papua New Guinea people in
border areas.

There is growing conflict in the Indonesian-ruled half of the
island of New Guinea, known as Irian Jaya or West Papua, as the
Melanesian West Papuans press for independence.

The Sandaun report states that "there appears to be a high level of
leakage of confidential information to Indonesian authorities and
the general public."

A local community leader, who also requested anonymity, said he is
not surprised at the report. He said he has seen Papua New Guinea
officials, including the intelligence officers, being entertained
and accommodated by Indonesian government, military and police
officials across the border in Jayapura.

He said he supports the call by the Sandaun administration to
investigate the officers before the interest and the security of
PNG are compromised by a few selfish and incompetent officers.

The Sandaun provincial administration, through the Provincial
Disaster Committee, recommended that the current intelligence
officers based in the provincial center of Vanimo be investigated
and replaced with more competent and committed officers.

"Leakage of classified information to other countries is very
serious and the penalty is quite serious too," an officer from the
National Intelligence Organization (NIO) said.

The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the
penalty for selling information to other countries is punishable by
law. He said the penalty could carry 10 to 30 years imprisonment
depending on the seriousness of the crime.

The need for training intelligence agents along the border from
Wutung to Telefomin should also be addressed, the Sandaun report
said. The agents should be trained to gather intelligence
information and use of communication facilities -- such as HF radio
and satellite telephones or any other communication apparatus -- to
collect and supply information.

The Sandaun administration is also calling for the demolition of
Operesa Papua Merdeka (OPM), or Free Papua Movement, training camps
and settlements within Papua New Guinea territory.

The Sandaun administration said that the last three decades had
seen a flow of refugees from West Papua as a result of the struggle
there.

It said that during the past 30 years Papua New Guinea has
acknowledged the presence of the OPM freedom fighters operating
within its territory and launching their guerrilla war against the
Indonesian security forces.

It said: "This sympathetic approach by PNG authorities has created
mistrust between PNG and Indonesia and thus contradicts PNG=92s
commitment to the Joint Border Agreement (JBA). This has also
resulted in border incursions by Indonesian soldiers in what they
claim as =91hot pursuit=92 of OPM rebels.

"Many former Indonesian refugees (mainly Melanesians) who have been
made PNG citizens are said to be conducting =91hostile political
activities=92 in PNG.

"The Sandaun administration is fully aware of the establishment of
OPM training camps at Krisa, Pual, Dalong and other areas along the
common border. There are also reports that pro-Indonesian military
training camps have been established in areas like Yapsie," the
submission said.

The submission said there are confirmed reports that Papua New
Guinea citizens have been recruited and are training in these
camps.

"PNG has been used as a training ground for subversive activities
of another country. Where is the nation=92s sovereignty and the
citizens=92 security?" the report asked.

"Many illegal border crossers have also crossed into PNG using the
=91Traditional Border Crossers=92 and have permanently settled in
Vanimo and other areas along the border and are engaged in
subversive political and military activities," the document states.

"Waigani is aware of the situation but continues to down play the
border problem, hence risking the lives of PNG citizens living
along the border," it says.

The Sandaun document recommended that an urgent joint military and
police operation be conducted to permanently remove OPM and
pro-Indonesian military training camps in Sandaun and Western
provinces.

It also recommends the stripping of citizenship and deportation of
any former refugees found engaged in activities that threaten
national security.

Meanwhile, the future of the 300 plus West Papuans now temporarily
accommodated at the Holy Cross community school in Vanimo is still
unknown.

Port Moresby is yet to respond to the submission by the Sandaun
provincial administration asking for refugee status for the border
crossers.

Sandaun Administrator Maran Nataleo said the border crossers will
have to be relocated by January 15 because the school year is
nearing and the classrooms will be needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
January 06, 2001
National Education Minister opens Papua University

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education inaugurated on
Friday the new Papua State University and appointed the first
rector for the university located in Manokwari city, some 638
kilometers west of the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura.

Frans Wanggai, previously the dean of the school of agriculture at
Cendrawasih University in the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura, was
appointed the rector for the new Papua State University.

"The new Papua State University is established based on real needs
to develop human resources in Irian Jaya, not because of
separatist' demands," Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin
said during his inauguration speech in a ceremony in Jakarta.

Demand for independence has grown stronger in Irian Jaya due to
strong disappointment toward Jakarta after years of "unfair
treatment and over-exploitation of natural resources".

The Papua State University was formerly the school of agriculture
at Cendrawasih University (Uncen).

The minister also installed Frans Alexander Wospakrik as Uncen
rector for a second term.

The two rectors attended the ceremony held at the Ministry of
National Education in Jakarta.

Director General of Higher Education Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro
further said that there were already some 30 private universities
and schools in the easternmost province of Irian Jaya.

"The problem lies in the fact that the quality of secondary school
graduates is still imbalanced since most them are from social
studies (IPS) instead of science (IPA).

"So the science studies in the university level have fewer
students," Satryo told The Jakarta Post and Media Indonesia.

Under the current conditions, it would take at least five years to
improve the quality of graduates in natural source-rich Irian Jaya,
he said.

"In a bid to cope with the problem, basic science must be improved
right through elementary to secondary schools so that many students
will be able to take science studies in the universities," Satryo
added.

There are currently 2,378 elementary schools, 238 junior high
schools and 105 senior high schools in Irian Jaya.

In a related development, Minister Yahya also revealed that his
office had submitted a revision to government regulations toward
the teachers and civil servants recruitment system in the wake of
regional autonomy.

"We want the recruitment and distribution of teachers, and the
management concerning their status to be handled by the central
government to avoid dissimilarity in the quality of teaching
standards," Yahya said.

"If we stick to the new government regulation of civil servants
administration (No. 96 to 100 which was issued in November) ... the
regions can form their own standards for teachers. But this can
damage the national education system. Let's say a region needs 200
mathematics teachers. If there are not enough teachers, the
administration will take sports teachers or other unqualified
teachers to teach the class," he said.

Head of the National Employee Affairs Agency (BKN) Prijono
Tjiptoherijanto issued a letter dated Jan. 3, 2001 to all ministers
and all regional leaders that all matters concerning promotion,
transfer, management and pension of civil servants from echelon I
to IV will run as usual (as in the previous system). BKN has to
approve it to avoid dispute in the ill-prepared regional autonomy.

While for high ranking officials, the recommendation concerning
administrative matters must be officiated by both BKN and a
Presidential decree. (edt)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indonesian Observer
Saturday, January 06 - 2001
Jakarta to delay mining autonomy up to 5 years

JAKARTA (IO) =97 Mining and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo
Yusgiantoro said yesterday that a presidential decree will soon be
issued to delay handover of mining autonomy to the provincial
administrations across the country for up to five years.

Purnomo told the press in the West Java capital of Bandung that
that the duration of five years is to give the regions time to
prepare before they are authorized to control their lucrative
mineral resources.

=93A presidential decree will delay the handover to regions for a
maximum of five years. But if the regions are ready in one year,
they can go ahead,=94 Purnomo told the press.

Although Purnomo did not say that the delay is aimed at calming
foreign investors, as well as protests from donor countries, it is
believed that it will ease the fears of the country=92s remaining
foreign investor groups.

Purnomo admitted that many foreign mining companies had expressed
concern over the autonomy laws, because the regions were
ill-prepared, lacked enabling legislation and the necessary
personnel.

=93We don=92t want investors to worry. We don=92t want investors to run
away from Indonesia because they are important for our revenues,=94
Purnomo added. And he warned that investors might seek
international arbitration if their contracts were threatened by the
regional autonomy laws.

New regional autonomy laws, which took effect on January 1, have
worried foreign investors who have invested their capital in the
country=92s mining sectors. They believe that the transfer of
authority from the central government to regional administrations
will create various problems for them.

=93What it will mean to mining investors is not clear yet. We haven=92t
seen a lot of regulations which will govern the implementation,=94
Richard Ness, president director of gold miner PT Newmont Minahasa
Raya, was quoted as saying by Reuters recently.

Newmont Minahasa, a subsidiary of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp,
operates in North Sulawesi.

The decision may be good news for investors, but the central
government may find difficulty in explaining it to the mineral
rich-regions like Irian Jaya, Aceh, and Riau which have urged the
government to immediately surrender a large part of their
resources.

Purnomo said that a joint team comprising central and local
officials along with foreign investors would be established to
determine whether or not regions were ready to take control of
mining resources.

Purnomo also promised that existing contracts with mining companies
would be respected.

For the moment, Indonesia=92s huge oil and gas operations will also
stay under Jakarta=92s control, although regional authorities will
get a cut of the earnings under the new laws which are designed to
speed up the transition to democracy in the giant archipelago, long
used to autocratic central rule.

These industries represent about the only ones left in Indonesia
with any sizable foreign investment.

Other investors mostly fled during nearly three years of
still-unresolved political and economic mayhem and show no sign of
returning anytime soon.

Indonesia had previously said it might need up to five years to
give regions increased control over mining operations, but until
yesterday nothing concrete had been announced.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Financial Times (London)
Indonesia delays mining handover
By Tom McCawley in Jakarta
Published: January 5 2001 11:24GMT | Last Updated: January 5 2001
11:26GMT

Indonesia said on Friday it would postpone handing over control of
its mining sector to regional governments for up to five years to
give authorities more time to prepare.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro, mines and energy minister, said a forthcoming
presidential decree would formalise proposals to delay control of
mining resources that have been circulating in the industry for
over a month.

Under new regional autonomy laws, effective from January 2001, the
central government in Jakarta is to return administrative control
and up to 85 per cent of mining revenues to the provinces of
origin.

Foreign mining companies have expressed concern that regional
governments in Indonesia lack the expertise and personnel to
administer the mining sector, according to David Rubin, a mining
analyst with Nomura Securities in Jakarta. The sector accounts for
around 10 per cent of GDP.

Mr Yusgiantoro said a special panel is to be established to
determine regional government's readiness to apply the laws, to
consist of foreign investors and officials from the central and
regional governments.

He said decisions would be made on a case by case basis adding that
governments may be granted the revenues within a year if they are
ready.

Viator Butar-Butar, an economist based in the province of Riau,
Sumatra, says many regional governments are drastically short of
human resources, including accountants, lawyers and civil servants
needed to administer the laws.

He reiterated a promise that existing contracts with mining
companies would be honoured.

Indonesia's oil and gas operations are to stay under the control of
Jakarta but regional authorities are to receive a portion of the
revenues.

Under the 32-year military-backed rule of Suharto, former
president, most revenues from the mining sector, flowed to Jakarta
feeding regional resentments.

Returning economic and political control to the regions under the
new laws is Jakarta's attempt at salving discontent.







KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
NOTE: "All items are posted for their news/information content. They are
not necessarily the views of IRJA.org or subscribers. "

Date: 1/4/01 9:08:19 PM Central Standard Time
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Indonesian Observer
Friday, January 05 - 2001
Diplomacy needed to disarm Papua separatists in PNG

JAKARTA (IO) =97 Local government officials in Irian Jaya (West
Papua), in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, are
planning to use diplomatic efforts to disarm separatist rebels
hiding across the border in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Irian Jaya Police Chief Inspector General F. Soemardi yesterday
said the government may ask PNG authorities to conduct sweeping
operations on their side of the border and arrest any Indonesians
found in possession of firearms or ammunition.

He said several West Papua separatists have stolen weapons from the
Indonesian police and military, and then fled across the border
into PNG.

=93In a raid on December 7, separatists were able to kill three
police from Abepura and seized some rifles from them,=94 he was
quoted as saying by Antara.

=93Of course we can=92t pursue them by entering the foreign country
because such action could be regarded as a form of invasion, which
would be a violation of international law.=94

Soemardi said Indonesia will probably advise PNG police to conduct
more regular patrols along the north-south border of the two
countries.

He said murdering Indonesian military and police officials and
stealing their weapons are quite serious crimes, but even worse is
the crime of attempting to make Irian Jaya secede from Indonesia.

Soemardi did not refer to the separatists as members of the
pro-independence Papua Presidium Council or its Task Force, but
instead called them members of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) or
security disturbance groups (GPK).

He issued a stern warning to the separatists who have been fighting
a low-level battle for independence since the 1960s. =93The
Indonesian police and military certainly will not tolerate the OPM=92
s declaration of an independent state,=94 he said.

But Soemardi claimed that because it=92s difficult to pursue the
rebels on foreign soil, local police and military personnel will
welcome them wholeheartedly, forget their =93evil=94 deeds and treat
them as other citizens, if they decide to return to Irian Jaya.

Human rights activists say thousands of people have died in years
of fighting between Indonesian security forces and rebels in Irian
Jaya. Many of the province=92s 2 million people still live a
near-Stone Age existence in the mountainous interior. The tribesmen
traditionally use poison arrows and spears in their conflicts.

After the Dutch started to pull out of their colonial territory in
the early 1960s, the US =97 worried about its waning influence in
Indonesia due to an increase in communist activities =97 belatedly
pressured the Netherlands to negotiate with Indonesia to find a
solution to the West Papua problem.

In 1962, the Dutch agreed to hand over the territory to the United
Nations, who then, a year later gave the region to Indonesia, with
an understanding that by the end of the decade the West Papuan
people would have a chance to vote as to whether they wanted to
remain part of Indonesia.

Pro-independence activists say that the so-called =93act of free
choice=94 in 1969 was a sham. All 1,022 village chiefs supposedly
decided to remain part of Indonesia, allegedly because they had
been threatened.

Most of the profits from Irian Jaya=92s valuable natural resources go
to the US and Jakarta; while analysts claim the local population is
in danger of being outnumbered by settlers from Java and other
densely populated Indonesian islands.

President Abdurrahman Wahid, who has pledged to end the rebel
conflict, is facing a tough battle in placating separatists and
hardline elements of the military.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
1/4/2001 2:56:16 PM
RI lobby PNG on looted weapons

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Irian Jaya Police Chief Insp. Gen. F.
Soemardi said on Thursday that diplomatic lobbying between the
Indonesian government and the government of Papua New Guinea was
ongoing in connection with weapons looted by the separatist
FreePapua Movement (OPM) and which were smuggled into Papua New
Guinean territory.

"It is impossible for us to pursue the rebels through PNG
territory, it is against the law and would be considered as
invading a neighboring country," Soemardi said as quoted by Antara.

The weapons were looted from Abepura police precinct on Dec. 7,
after the rebel group killed two police officers and a civilian
security guard.

Soemardi has strong beliefs that the weapons were smuggled and
stashed into PNG territory. He did not give details on the number
and the type of the weapons.

The Papua New Guinean government has publicly announced that they
are not supporting any rebel groups. Indonesian authorities have,
however, said that members of the separatist group always run to
PNG areas after launching attacks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
RI-PNG Trade Sluggish - Official
Thursday, January 04, 2001/1:55:28 PM
Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Jan 4 (ANTARA)

Trade between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) has been
sluggish due to the economic crisis and the unstable political
situation in the country, a local official has said.

This is evident in the decrease in activities between businessmen
of Indonesia`s Irian Jaya province and Papua New Guinea last
December, the provincial trade and industry office`s head for
international trade, Decky Rumbiak, told reporters here Wednesday.

Rumbiak said the provincial administration had sent a trade
delegation to Papua New Guinea last Sept 8-30 to explore investment
opportunities in the neighboring country, particularly in Port
Moresby and Lae, capital of Morobe province.

During the visit, the Irianese businessmen promoted Irian Jaya`s
products, such as asphalt, household utensils, garments and
furniture, he said.

A memorandum of understanding on establishing trade relations
between the two countries` respective chambers of commerce and
industry was also signed during the meeting, he added.

"However, until the end of 2000, there was no sign of any trade
between the Indonesian and Papuan businessmen," he said.

Rumbiak however noted that the Irianese company, PT Wuar Boo Mun,
has opened a representative office in Vanimo, capital of Papua New
Guinea`s Sandaun province.

The company, he said, has been promoting its products, such as
asphalt by an oil refinery in Cilacap, Central Java to the
neighboring country.





KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
NOTE: "All items are posted for their news/information content. They are
not necessarily the views of IRJA.org or subscribers. "

Date: 1/3/01 6:57:55 PM Central Standard Time
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Times of India
Wednesday - 3 January 2001
Indonesia prepares trial of Irian Jaya separatists

JAKARTA: Indonesian authorities in the country's rebellious
province of Irian Jaya are preparing to try 22 people on the
subversion-based charge of separatism, a report said Tuesday.

A series of dossiers relating to charges against 17 of the suspects
were handed to the district court by local prosecutors on Tuesday,
the Antara news agency said.

On Saturday police had delivered dossiers on five pro-independence
leaders.

The head of the district prosecutor's office, N Simanjuntak, said
the 17 would all be charged with subversion by attempting to
separate a region from the Republic of Indonesia, a crime carrying
a maximum penalty of life in jail.

The 17 were detained following a riot on October 6 in the town of
Wamena which left at least 30 people dead following attempts by
Indonesian security forces to pull down separatist flags.

The head of the district court in Wamena, Sabrin Donggio, said the
trials of the 17 suspects would open before the middle of January.

Additionally, Simanjuntak listed the five separatist leaders whose
cases were also being readied for court.

These were the Reverend Obet Komba, a member of the separatist
Papua Presidium, Murjono Murib, a chairman of the local Papua
Panel, Yapet Yelemaken, the Papua Panel's secretary, and panel
members Yudas Miyage and Emilia Yigibalom.

They were arrested on December 18 on suspicion of breaking the same
subversion law, he said.

In June during a conference in the provincial capital of Jayapura,
the pro-independence Papua Presidium called on the Indonesian
government to recognise a 1961 declaration of independence by Irian
Jaya.

Five other Praesidium leaders, including its chief Theys Eluay,
were also arrested in Jayapura last month, and are awaiting trial,
also on subversion charges.

The people of Irian Jaya, otherwise known as West Papua, declared
independence on December 1, 1961.

Eight years later the former Dutch colony became a part of
Indonesia under a UN-sanctioned act of free choice, a process that
Papuans say was flawed.

Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has said Jakarta will not
consider independence for Irian Jaya, whose people are largely
Melanesian Christians, but promised to grant broad autonomy
instead.
-- (AFP)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Koridor.com
Theys Still Asking for Independence
Detained in Special Cell
koridor.com [3 Jan, 19:18]

Chairman of Papua's Council, Theys Hiyo Eluay, is happy being
transferred from Irian Jaya Regional Police Headquarter to Abepura
Prison. In fact, he is starting to enjoy his detention period by
keeping himself busy with activities like badminton, morning walk,
and reading of newspaper.

All of these are because of the facilities in Abepura Prison (10
km. west of Jayapura) that is more humane compared with the
detention cell in Irian Jaya Regional Police Headquarter.

Theys and four of his friends, namely, Don Flassy, Thaha Al Hamid,
Pastor Herman Awom and John Mambru along with all the material
evidences in the form of documents had been officially submitted by
the Irian Jaya Police to the State Prosecutor's Office in Jayapura
since last Friday (29/12/2000). Theys and his friends are accused
of violating article 106 of the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHP)
with life or 20 years imprisonment threat.

They are detained in a 5x6 meter sized special cells in the Prison.
In this said Prison, theys is in one cell with John Mambru while
Thaha Al hamid, Herman Awom and Don Flassy are in the cell next to
Theys. These special cells are separated by about 20 meters from
the other cells.

"The cell door are even open from 06:00 until 19:00 eastern
Indonesian time. As such, there are plenty of time for them to
socialize or engage in sports. This could sufficiently lessens the
psychological impact on them," said Anum Siregar SH, legal counsel
of Theys and friends, when phoned by koridor.com today (Wednesday,
3/1).

Other facility that can be enjoyed by Theys and friends is reading
various newspapers and magazines. As their source of information of
the outside world, they can also bring in a small television.

"They are also allowed to accept guests in their cells without
strict limitations. Even their families are happier in condition
like this," said Anum.

During the conversation with Theys this afternoon, he attested of
not withdrawing from his step to carry out the mandate of the
Second Congress of the People of Papua, that is, to ask for
independence. "Even if such could mean heavy sentence, Theys sticks
to his belief. If there are other parties accepting the Special
Autonomy, that's alright. However, such is a different matter,"
said Anum in quoting Theys' message. (tata / edl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday, January 4, 2001
We saw soldiers use torture, say PNG police

Papua New Guinea police on patrol along the border with Irian Jaya
say they were horrified to witness a West Papuan rebel being
tortured by Indonesian soldiers.

A member of Lae's mobile squad 13 stationed in Vanimo and the
border area said the rebel was repeatedly slashed with a knife and
forced to swallow cups of hot chilli soup.

"It was torture at its worst," the police officer said of the
alleged Indonesian interrogation at the border last Thursday.

"It's something we have never seen before."

Indonesia is refusing to allow independence for Irian Jaya, also
known as West Papua, despite demands from the indigenous
population.

PNG and Indonesian troops on the border talk to each other daily,
and PNG officers are occasionally invited by their counterparts for
drinks or food.

PNG police usually hide their weapons when they approach the
Indonesians, out of respect and courtesy, while the Indonesians are
always seen carrying their weapons.

The West Papuan rebel was allegedly being held in a small makeshift
cell. When he was not answering questions to the liking of the
Indonesians they would slash his body and make him swallow more
chilli soup.

PNG's Post-Courier newspaper, which visited the West Papua rebel
commander, Mr Mathias Wenda, at his hideout in jungle near Vanimo
on Saturday, was introduced to a woman who had lost all five
fingers on one hand. The Indonesians had allegedly cut off her
fingers one at a time because she was the wife of a Papuan
commander.

She was lucky to have escaped death, but many others never came out
alive from torture camps in Irian Jaya, the paper was told.

A mother had also died hours before the paper visited the rebels'
hideout, and was carried in a bush stretcher to another campsite
for burial. She had died from severe malaria, which the rebels said
she contracted while escaping from the Indonesians.

Mr Wenda has warned that his men will launch fresh attacks against
Indonesian troops in the new year in their continued fight for
independence.
-- Pacnews
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday, January 4, 2001
Editorial
Indonesia's experiment

There is wide agreement in Indonesia that it needs to devolve its
highly centralised administration to survive as a nation. And so,
at the New Year, Indonesia launched on a sweeping devolution of
power from its capital, Jakarta. But to where, exactly, and with
what prospects of success? Contrary to the widespread impression
that powers and revenues will be transferred to the 29 provinces,
thereby deflating separatist feelings, the big winners will be the
364 "regencies" or districts in the next tier down of government.
Two laws on regional autonomy were passed in mid-1999 by the
short-lived interim government of former president Dr B.J. Habibie.
These pass authority on matters such as education, agriculture,
health, mining and forestry to these local administrative units,
many of which contain a million or more people.

The new relationship between centre, province and regency has yet
to be worked out. In Aceh and Irian Jaya - the two provinces with a
real push for secession, as opposed to theatrics aimed at more
revenue - the people will have to wait until May for President
Abdurrahman Wahid to reveal proposals for special autonomy. It is
yet unclear what part, if any, the locals will have in formulating
these plans. And, most important, the Indonesian military has not
yet renounced its "territorial" role, which gives itself the right
to interfere in government at all levels.

As to the effectiveness of the newly empowered regions, the
auguries are not so good. The minister who did much of the work
preparing for decentralisation, Professor Ryaas Rasyid, has
resigned from Mr Wahid's Cabinet and has disowned the process.
Professor Ryaas was minister for regional autonomy until August
before being sidelined to a more general, and less powerful,
portfolio of administrative reform where he watched the deadline
for devolution approach with virtually no detailed planning done.
There are well-grounded fears of chaos, as ill-equipped district
officials wrestle with complex policies and tasks, and of an
explosion of corruption and resource plunder. The International
Monetary Fund is worried about the potential for yet more
unrepayable debt being loaded on to Indonesian taxpayers.

The exercise has been rushed - 20 months from passage of the
Habibie laws to their application - yet possibly Indonesia needs
this kind of shock therapy to free it from the stultifying heritage
of top-down rule exemplified in the saying "Asal bapak senang" (As
long as the boss is happy). The centralised system has hardly
protected Indonesia's precious forests, for example, from rampant
theft. The worry is that initial confusion will be used as an
excuse to plunge the country back under authoritarian rule, rather
than to work patiently to make devolution work. It may take three
or four years before a coherent picture of the new system emerges,
and the results will be patchy. One indication of success will be
the degree to which district governments are accountable to their
citizens. As one Indian prime minister, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, said
in reference to his vast country's problems of governance: "The
answer to problems of democracy is: more democracy." Not an easy
prescription, but a sound one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wednesday, January 3 10:51 AM SGT
Unicef to Fund Public Health Services in Irian Jaya
MANOKWARI, Jan 3 Asia Pulse

The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
has announced plans to grant Irian Jaya's Manokwari district Rp1.7
billion (US$183,783) in aid to develop public health services, a
provincial health official said.

"The money will be used to upgrade the quality of basic health
services, including health care for mothers and children," regional
heath office head Abdul Kahar said here on Tuesday.

UNICEF will also finance a program to provide additional food to
children under five years old, especially those living in isolated
areas.

According to Kahar, UNICEF aid to Irian Jaya has been increasing
and proven to be very beneficial, particularly the assistance for
children suffering from malnutrition.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government itself provided some Rp1.4
billion to develop public health facilities in Irian Jaya in 2000
under its social safety net program.

The central government's assistance was used, among other things,
to combat communicable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis
(TBC), to revitalize "pos yandus" (mother-and-child healthcare
stations) and to distribute extra food for undernourished children.
-- (ANTARA)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Received from Joyo Indonesian News

ANALYSIS: Miners nervous, confused over Indonesia's autonomy
By Grace Nirang
JAKARTA, Jan 3 (Reuters)

Miners, among the biggest investors in Indonesia's outlying
provinces, fear that controversial autonomy laws which took effect
at the start of the year could cast them into a new bureaucratic
mire.

But such is the muddle surrounding the new laws -- even their
frustrated main architect offered to resign on Tuesday -- no-one is
quite sure what the impact will be other than confusion.

"We all agree it (autonomy) is the way to go, but the preparations
leave a lot to be desired," Noke Kiroyan, president director of Rio
Tinto Indonesia, told Reuters.

The government has been accused of rushing through the changes,
designed to give the world's largest archipelago greater democracy
and end decades of autocratic central rule.

The laws formally took effect on Monday but few of the technical
changes needed to implement them are in place.

On Tuesday, Administrative Reform Minister Ryaas Rasyid resigned
because of disagreement with President Abdurrahman Wahid on how to
make the ambitious changes work.

"What it will mean to mining investors is not clear yet. We haven't
seen a lot of regulation which will govern the implementation,"
Richard Ness, president director of gold miner PT Newmont Minahasa
Raya, said.

Newmont Minahasa, a subsidiary of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp,
operates in North Sulawesi.

Most of the biggest mining companies signed their contracts during
the despotic rule of former President Suharto who kept all major
business interests firmly under the control of the central
government.

Now, their ventures are looking to be on shakier ground and miners
are wondering whether they will become victims to a new set of
vested interests.

Paul Louis Courtier, executive director of the Indonesian Mining
Association, said the autonomy laws have created an opportunity for
regencies to impose new rules or even cancel the licences they need
to operate.

"It means new laws, new levies. They now have the power to get rid
of investors they don't like. This has frightened the mining
sector," Courtier said.

Looking Chaotic
"The whole thing looks chaotic, to put it mildly," Rio Tinto's
Kiroyan said.

"I think we should all keep a cool head but let's hope the regional
governments are of the same mind," he added.

In the past, the mining companies paid royalties on their output to
central state coffers.

Under the new autonomy laws, regions can keep 80 percent of revenue
from general mining.

Ness of Newmont said his company was not even sure to whom it would
have to pay millions in dollars in mining royalties this year.

"It's very good to see more funds allocated for outlying regions
where we operate. But the regulatory framework and the legal
obligations are not clear," he said.

Wait And See
The uncertainties surrounding the future of the mining industry is
seen hampering new investment in one of the world's most mineral
rich territories.

"Mining investors which are already operating here will continue to
do mining, but new investors will probably take a wait-and-see
stance this year," Ness said.

But he added it was not just autonomy but also because they were
waiting for a new mining law which will start being deliberated by
parliament sometime this month.

Even administrative reform minister Ryaas, architect of the
regional autonomy blueprint, predicts that as it stands regional
autonomy would likely be counterproductive because most regions
were not sufficiently prepared to run their own affairs.

"I'm pessimistic about regional autonomy's success because with the
absence of necessary regulations and presidential decrees to
enforce the laws on autonomy...it will only burden the people," he
said.

President Wahid has rejected Ryaas' resignation for the moment.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has said
regional autonomy will proceed in stages but details are very thin.

Ness said the mining industry hoped Wahid's government could remove
the uncertainty by issuing regulations on the scope of mining
powers held by local governments.

"Even if the regional government have the ability to govern
themselves they
have yet to develop their own frameworks," Ness said.

**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
**************************************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tuesday January 2, 9:12 am Eastern Time
Press Release
Freeport McMoRan Copper And Gold Inc. Announces: --Normal Mining
Operations Resumed At Grasberg Mine
--Fourth Quarter Production To Exceed Previous Estimates
-- Pt-Fi To Establish New Record For Quarterly Copper Sales
New Orleans--(Business Wire)--Jan. 2, 2001

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) announced today that its
principal mining unit, PT Freeport Indonesia (PT-FI), has resumed
normal mining operations at its Grasberg open pit mine in Irian
Jaya, Indonesia. As previously announced, mining operations from
the Grasberg pit were voluntarily limited to 200,000 metric tons of
ore per day mined (MTPD) during the last eight months, while PT-FI
and the Government of Indonesia's Energy and Natural Resources
Department conducted a comprehensive study of an overburden
stockpile slippage in May, 2000. Following a review of a
comprehensive study by PT-FI and outside consultants led by a team
from the Institute of Technology of Bandung (Indonesia), and the
involvement of the local communities in the area, the Government of
Indonesia has approved PT-FI's resumption of normal mining
operations at Grasberg, including the placement of overburden on
the Wanagon overburden stockpile. The entire Grasberg mining
complex has returned to normal operational status in accordance
with Freeport's approved plan for long-term mining and overburden
management.

PT-FI's fourth quarter operating results will reflect improved ore
grades at the Grasberg mining complex. PT-FI's aggregate production
for the fourth quarter of 2000 is anticipated to exceed 500 million
pounds of copper and 875 thousand ounces of gold bringing aggregate
2000 production at the mine to approximately 1.6 billion pounds of
copper and 2.3 million ounces of gold. PT-FI's share of sales for
the quarter is expected to exceed previous estimates and are
anticipated to exceed 430 million pounds of copper, a new record
for quarterly PT-FI copper sales, and 700 thousand ounces of gold,
PT-FI's second highest quarterly gold sales to date. These fourth
quarter sales bring PT-FI's total sales for 2000 to approximately
1.4 billion pounds of copper and 1.9 million ounces of gold. FCX
will remain the lowest cost copper producer in the world with
anticipated net cash production costs, after gold credits, of
approximately 11 cents per pound of copper in the fourth quarter of
2000 and approximately 24 cents per pound for the year.

For 2001, PT-FI estimates aggregate production at the Grasberg
mining complex to be approximately 1.6 billion pounds of copper and
in excess of 3.0 million ounces of gold. PT-FI's share of sales are
anticipated to approximate 1.4 billion pounds of copper and 2.3
million ounces of gold, an increase from 2000 of over 400,000
ounces of gold.

FCX is engaged in mineral exploration and development, mining and
milling of copper, gold and silver in Indonesia, and the smelting
and refining of copper concentrates in Spain and Indonesia.
Additional information about FCX is available on our internet web
site (www.fcx.com).

Cautionary Statement. This press release contains forward-looking
statements in which we discuss factors we believe may affect our
performance in the future. Forward-looking statements are all
statements other than historical facts, such as statements
regarding anticipated production and sales volumes, ore grade and
costs Important factors that might cause future results to differ
from these projections include industry risks, commodity prices,
Indonesian political risks and other factors described in FCX's
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tapol
Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Petromindo, Wednesday, January 03, 2001
EXCLUSIVE: Wanagon lake capable to contain Freeport=92s overburden:
ITB

A study by an independent team from the prestigious university
Institute Technology of Bandung (ITB) concludes that the Wanagon
lake in Irian Jaya was capable to contain overburden produced by
copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia at the ore
production rate of more than 200,000 tons per day.

Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro told
Petromindo.com the ITB team made the study on the Wanagon lake at
the request of the government after the ministry of energy and
mineral resources and the state ministry of environment failed to
agree if the lake was capable to contain to Freeport=92s overburden.

Since the ministry of energy and mineral resources and the state
ministry of environment had different perception (about the
capability of the Wanagon lake to contain Freeport=92s overburden),
we appointed an independent team led by qualified persons (to
conduct a study on the matter). The team is from the ITB.

After completing the study, (the team says) the Wanagon lake has no
problem in containing overburden from Freeport at the ore
production rate of more than 200,000 tons per day, Purnomo said on
the return flight from Irian Jaya to Jakarta.

Purnomo was accompanying President Abdurrahman Wahid to visit to
Freeport=92s operation on Tuesday.

Purnomo said the ministry would only allow Freeport to resume the
operation of the Wanagon lake as its overburden dumping site based
on the ITB team=92s study after completing socializing the study=92s
results.

Socializing is the local term for disseminating information to
public.

Purnomo noted that many parties had questioned the result of the
ITB team=92s study and said the ministry would hold a meeting with
the House of Representatives=92 Commission VIII for energy and
mineral resources, science and technology, and environment on the
result of the ITB team=92s study.

The operation the Wanagon lake as overburden dumping site by
Freeport became a national controversy following a landslide at the
lake which led to the death of four workers in May this year.

Environmental activists argued the lake was incapable to contain
overburden produced by Freeport at the ore production rate of more
than 200,000 tons per day.

They called on the government to order Freeport to cut down its
production, close the lake and dump its overburden to other
locations.

Freeport produced 230,000 tons of ore when the landslide accident
took place.

Freeport has willingly cut down its production to below 200,000
tons per day following the incident and been operating a new
dumping site at the nearby area of Cartenz.

Freeport Indonesia is a subsidiary of American mining giant
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold. (godang)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: Tapol
Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Petromindo, Wednesday, January 03, 2001
President asks foreign investors to stay away from political
affairs
-- President Abdurrahman Wahid warned on Tuesday foreign investors
not to meddle in the country=92s politics.

The statement was made by the President, who is affectionately
called by his nickname Gus Dur, during a visit to the operation
base of copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia in
Mimika, Irian Jaya.

I warn all companies operating in Indonesia, particularly companies
owned by foreign investors, to be careful in one thing. That is
they should not meddle with the political affairs either on the
national or local levels. This is a stern warning, Gus Dur said in
his off-the-cuff remarks during the visit.

Gus Dur was accompanied by Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources
Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih,
Junior Minister for the Acceleration of the Development in the
Eastern Region Manuel Kaisiepo, Armed Forces commander Admiral
Widodo AS, Irian Jaya governor Jacobus Salossa and Freeport
Indonesia=92s president Adrianto Machribie.

The President did not specify the companies which had meddled or
try to meddle with Indonesian political affairs.

In his speech, Gus Dur also called on Freeport to boost its
community development and environmental protection programs.

I am here to take a closer look at how Freeport Indonesia has
changed lives here. I also want to know if Freeport has taken
necessary measures to improve the past time that had been
significantly tainted by many unpleasant things. I also want to
know if Freeport has taken measures to settle community and
environmental problems. Freeport is a mining company. Because of
it, it caused lots of pollution in the past. And this caused many
complaints, the President said.

In response to the many parties=92 demand for a change in the
contracts held by mining companies, including Freeport, the
President noted that the government would honor all the contracts
of work that had been awarded by the former governments

We from the central government has underlined that we shall honor
all our international commitment, Gus Dur said.

He called on Freeport to reach win-win solutions out of the court
in settling its dispute with various parties, similar to the
measure taken by gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya in
North Sulawesi in settling its dispute with the Minahasa regency
administration.

He also called on Freeport to appoint a member of the Amungme and
Komor tribal groups as a member of the company=92s board of
commissioners representing both tribal groups.

Freeport is morally obliged to select one member of the tribal
groups to become a commissioner of the company but it depends on
Freeport whether it thinks it is morally obliged to do so, Gus Dur
said.

In his speech, Adrianto said Freeport had earmarked one percent of
its sales per year in funds for the promotion of the local people=92s
welfare. The so-called Freeport Fund for Irian Jaya Development
(FFIJD) has now reached US$15 million.

He also said Freeport=92s exports account for 93 percent of Irian
Jaya=92s total non oil and gas exports and four percent of the
national non-oil and gas exports. (godang)

**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,

Date: 1/2/01 8:11:25 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org

http://www.irja.org/conf.htm

To leave this list follow the instructions at the bottom of this email or
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The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
1/2/2001 4:11:19 PM
Irian Jaya separatist activists to face trial soon

JAKARTA (JP): Dossiers of the five detained separatist activists in
Wamena were submitted to the prosecutors' office, Antara reported
on Tuesday.

Jayawijaya Police Chief Supt. D. Suripatty sent the dossiers of
Rev. Obet Komba (member of Papuan Presidium Council), Murjono
Murib, Yapet Yelemaken, Rev. Yudas Miyage and Emilia Yigibalom, on
Saturday.

Head of the Wamena prosecutors' office N. Simanjuntak said the five
suspects were now in his office's custody and would soon be
transferred from police detention.

The five suspects were arrested and have been detained by police
since Dec. 18.

According to Simanjuntak, the five violated Article 106 of the
Criminal Code on treason and faced a maximum penalty of life
sentence or 20-years in jail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Age (Melbourne)
Tread delicately Jakarta's minefield
By K.C. Boey
Wednesday 3 January 2001

Regime change in Indonesia is the lens through which Australia must
contemplate local struggles for independence. West Papuan agitation
for autonomy, as in Aceh or any other province in Indonesia, cannot
be seen in isolation.

In this context, there are four protagonists that must be taken
into account.

There are the leaders of the respective independence movements.
There is Jakarta (as in the democratically elected government of
President Abdurrahman Wahid). There is the military, inured with a
culture of two generations of activist participation in
nationalistic governance. And there are those former cronies of the
Suharto era bent on pre-emptive destabilisation of the legitimately
elected government lest the Wahid drive for reform lay them bare to
prosecution.

Richard Chauvel (27/12, on this page) writes of "Jakarta" as if it
were a monolithic whole. He makes no attempt to distinguish the
military - nor their methods - from the conciliatory approach of
President Wahid. On this score, Chauvel fails Indonesia generally,
and West Papua in particular.

Canberra's rhetoric has the wrong focus, but may yet help achieve
the right result. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer makes overblown
pronouncements in trying to justify to Australians why they should
not support the separatist movement in West Papua, saying the
"fragmentation of Indonesia will lead to a bloodbath". Whether this
happens depends on the nature of regime change in Indonesia, and
the legitimacy of the government that comes out of that.

Thus regime change in Indonesia is the first-order interest of
Australia. Downer's caution over the independence movements (as
distinct from his hyperbole) is desirable to the extent that it
would buy time for the democratic process to take root in
Indonesia, and in that way strengthen the hand of Jakarta to meet
the aspirations of the people of West Papua in a democratic
fashion.

That takes time. Deakin University scholar Greg Barton puts the
magnitude of regime change in perspective in contrasting the
ascendancy to office of President Wahid and Premier Steve Bracks,
coincidentally mere days apart.

Barton, senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the School of Social
Inquiry at Deakin, has insight as President Wahid's official
biographer.

In a paper on President Wahid's struggle with regime change, Barton
writes of Bracks having inherited a state with a stable democracy,
a healthy economy, and a reliable and professional civil service in
which he enjoys considerable power to shape things according to his
needs and preferences. President Wahid, on the other hand, is
confronted with problems on every front. There is the dysfunctional
and corrupted civil service, a hostile parliament possessing
uncertain powers, and a demoralised but still dangerous security
apparatus accustomed to sharing in the business of government.

President Wahid is faced not so much with a "changing of the guard"
but a change of regime so far-sweeping that, after four decades of
military-backed authoritarian control under Suharto, it requires
the complete reinventing of political culture.

It is not just political reform that is required. Almost every
aspect of Indonesian society has to be rethought and reworked.

Not least of these is the "rentier state" economy of the Suharto
regime primarily concerned with the extraction of wealth for the
personal benefit of privileged individuals and cliques at every
level of society.

Many of the individuals involved, faced with a choice of sitting
back and awaiting their fate at the hands of a reformist Wahid
government or launching pre-emptive strikes on the new president,
have sought to intimidate President Wahid into backing off.

President Wahid has his problems, not least of which is control of
the military.

Chauvel is correct in that the people of Irian Jaya have not had
anything but a history replete with unfulfilled promises of
autonomy. But that ignores the observation of World Bank president
James Wolfensohn and Australia's departing ambassador to Jakarta,
John McCarthy, of an Indonesia making a go of change.

We should heed the urging of Wolfensohn and McCarthy for Australia
to put its weight behind the advances made towards regime change in
Indonesia.
-- K.C.Boey is a former editor of Malaysian Business and The Malay
Mail. He is a student of Australia-Asia relations, now on the staff
of The Age.
E-mail: kcboey@theage.fairfax.com.au
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
January 03, 2001
Skepticism remains over TNI internal reform

JAKARTA (JP): The year 2000 saw unlikely changes in the Indonesian
Military (TNI) -- and the Army in particular, as demonstrated in
the four major reshuffles and the dismissal of generals who were
still active and dubbed strong contenders for the top post in the
armed forces.

Combined with persistent antimilitary sentiment and political
pressures which mounted during the annual session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August, the move to reform the
military should have borne fruit.

MPR issued two landmark decrees which separates the Police from TNI
and subsequently sets a clear division of labor between them. The
Police are now in the vanguard of security, reducing TNI to a
back-up role.

Nevertheless, nothing has proven effective to push for a sound
internal reform in the TNI, which, despite its battered image,
stands as the most solid political power amid unabated bickering
among civilian counterparts.

Many believe the prolonged bloodshed in Maluku and North Maluku and
violence in rebellious provinces of Aceh and Irian Jaya has
justified the military's insistence on keeping its territorial
function intact.

On the other hand, human rights abuses in the four provinces have
been blamed in part on the military's reluctance to enforce the law
and failure to maintain the country's peace and order.

Several major reshuffles in the military, especially the transfer
of power in the Army from Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo to Gen. Tyasno
Sudarto and to the current chief of staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
has made the public more skeptical and pessimistic about a thorough
reform in the military.

Both Subagyo, a former adjutant of former president Soeharto, and
Endriartono, former chief of the presidential guard force
(Paspampres), have been close to the former ruler. Tyasno failed to
continue the reform because of the allegation of his involvement in
numerous crimes, including a fake money case.

The Army under Subagyo, Tyasno and Endriartono several times
pledged to review its territorial function and its business
activities to repair its badly tarnished image but, so far, no
concrete actions have materialized.

Rumors that President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid in his capacity
as TNI's supreme commander is unable to control the military, were
confirmed when he failed to promote pro-reform Lt. Gen. Agus
Wirahadikusumah, as Army chief to replace Tyasno in October. Many
generals went against Agus, citing his move to reveal
irregularities in the foundation belonging to the Army Strategic
Reserves Command (Kostrad) that implicated a number of generals
during his brief tenure at the command. Agus was eventually given
no job in the massive reshuffle in July.

Addressing the celebration of TNI's 55th anniversary, the President
called on soldiers to remain loyal to the state, instead of serving
their leaders but it gained no enthusiastic response from the
military leadership.

Although for over one year, TNI has been led by a non-Army officer,
Admiral Widodo Adi Sutjipto, no significant changes have been made
by the armed forces. Despite the discharge of Gen. Fahrul Razi as
TNI deputy commander, the leadership of Widodo remains ineffective
because most of the strategic posts in the TNI Headquarters remain
in the hands of Army generals.

J. Kristiadi, a political observer from the Centre for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS), recounted that despite its exit
from the bureaucracy, the military was still powerful, thanks to
the presence of its territorial line of command stretching from the
regional military commands in provincial capitals to military
districts and subdistricts.

He was sure the military will never go back to the barracks and
that democracy could not be upheld unless the territorial function
is phased out.

Harold Crouch, an Australian observer of Indonesia, has observed
that despite its withdrawal from politics, the Army could still
pose a potential obstacle to reform due to its territorial
organization which remains intact. He said the Army has abused
ethnic, religious and intergroup (SARA) conflicts to justify its
sociopolitical role as necessary to maintain social order and
national unity.

It has been an open secret that Army officers and soldiers have
long since abused the territorial command "to extort the people and
commit crimes."

"The territorial function has been abused by generals to extort
businessmen and government officials and by low-ranking soldiers to
commit crimes such as robberies and banned drug trafficking,"
Revrisond Baswir, a political observer from the Yogyakarta-based
Gadjah Mada University, said recently.

He suggested the territorial function be phased out and the
military's business be cut to let TNI be professional in carrying
out its defense function.

Juwono Sudarsono, former defense minister, acknowledged it needs a
long time to cleanse corrupt practices in the military and to
develop harmonious civil-military relationships. He said a
significant increase in the defense budget was not an urgent
solution to combat the corrupt culture.

According to him, the Army's diverging territorial function could
be neutralized if political parties have a strong network spanning
from Jakarta to the provinces, districts, subdistricts and
villages.

Salim Said, a military observer, called on the House to review the
law on defense to phase out the territorial function.

"All problems around the presence of regional military commands,
military districts and subdistricts could be solved peacefully if
the territorial function as stipulated by the law is reviewed, or
even phased out," he told The Jakarta Post recently.

He was of the same opinion that the military (read Army) should
change "its culture" and the people would believe in the presence
of internal reform in the military organization only if it shows
concrete actions in the field.

According to him, the people would give their sympathy if the
military was committed to surrender officers and retired generals
who were allegedly involved in human rights abuses in Aceh, Papua,
East Timor, and in the Tanjung Priok case and July 26 tragedy.
(rms)

Date: 1/1/01 9:55:49 PM Central Standard Time
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Koridor.com
Government Should be Honest
In Facing the Demands of Irian Jaya
koridor.com [1 Jan, 20:44]

On year 2001, the government is expected to be able to take an
honest stance against the people of Irian Jaya and admit truthfully
the real situation in the said region.

Such was stated by a singer coming from Irian Jaya, Edo Kondologit,
in Jakarta yesterday (31/12) in response to koridor.com's question
about his expectation to the government on year 2001.

"Our government need not be a hypocrite. All this time, the
government does not want to admit the real situation in Papua. The
demand for independence is not just coming from a small segment of
the people. Such is the desire of the majority of the people," he
said.

According to Edo, so far the government is already wrong in
handling the problems in Papua. Approaches conducted by the
government administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid are still
using military ways. Whereas, the people of Papua are traumatized
with military, as a consequence of the sufferings endured during
the New Order regime that was using 'guns and rifles' to perpetuate
its power.

"The people of Papua are fighting for independence not with the use
of violence like what is happening in Aceh. As such, should not be
dealt with violence as well. The struggle of the people of Aceh for
independence is resting on great devotion," said Edo. (lia / edl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Koridor.com
Mataram And Irian Quiet
Paper Hats & Trumpets Hot Items
koridor.com [1 Jan, 10:28]

The Irian Jaya Police chief FX Soemantri has told koridor.com that
Jayapura and other areas of Irian Jaya on New Year=92s Eve were
peaceful and safe. "We were alert but the important thing is New
Year=92s Eve passed smoothly,=94 he said.

He also said that the Irian Jaya authorities had been on alert
since Christmas.

Meanwhile, the situation in Mataram and nearby areas was also
peaceful despite the bombing on Christmas Eve. Members of the
security forces were seen standing guard in some areas.

Nearing the New Year, the streets in Mataram were quite empty since
most citizens were still in the Idul Fitri spirit while many others
had gone on vacation.

Prior to New Year=92s Eve, Mataram had been flooded with paper hats
and trumpets from Java. They were sold on the streets and were
apparently hot selling items. (lia / pl)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of
Hawai=91I

Escape From West Papua And Indonesia=92s Mobile Police
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
(December 29, 2000 =96 Post-Courier/PINA Nius Online)

In the early hours of November 28, Elimar Gombo of Wamena in
Indonesian-ruled West Papua fled his home in Jayapura in fear of
his life.

The Brimob (Indonesian mobile police) were constantly checking Mr.
Gombo through the days leading up to December 1, West Papua=92s self
declared Independence day.

Mr. Gombo was coordinating activities for the OPM (Free Papua
Movement) and like others from Abe, Waina, Sentani and Yapse, they
were being constantly monitored by the Brimob.

Many others, wives, husbands, brothers and sisters had been taken
away, never to return. Many others had survived but had suffered a
permanent injury, including losing all fingers or an eye.

Now a border crosser at Holy Cross community school in Vanimo, Mr.
Gombo spoke through interpreter Oscar Gunto about how he escaped.
Mr. Gunto is from West Papua too but he moved to Vanimo some years
back and has mastered "Tok Pisin."

Mr. Gombo said all OPM activists=92 homes were mapped out and
monitored at odd hours around the clock by the Brimob.

He said they were constantly harassed and threatened by the
Indonesians so he had to sneak into his house at night for food and
spend some minutes with his family before going back to bush.

Mr. Gombo had to sleep in different places every night because the
net created by the Indonesia was effective.

This included bribing West Papuans to spy against their own kind so
he had to be really careful all the time.

Mr. Gombo fled first with his family to Wutung on the PNG/Indonesia
border and they were later joined by two truckloads of men, women
and children.

For a few days, they were in "no man=92s land" and were easy targets
for the enemies until they were brought to Vanimo under the care of
the Catholic Church. He said to return home would mean certain
death at the hands of the Indonesians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
South China Morning Post
Monday, January 1, 2001
Indonesia
Government launches greater regional autonomy
Reuters in Jakarta - Updated at 12pm

Indonesia extended greater autonomy to its far-flung regions on
Monday, pressing ahead with a hastily prepared policy aimed at
soothing decades of animosity with Jakarta but which has caused
jitters among investors.

There were no initial reports of ceremonies to mark the official
start of the autonomy package, which fell on a holiday.

Under the measures, Jakarta has devolved powers to local
administrations across the world's largest archipelago, allowing
them to keep a greater share of revenues from the vast natural
resources that dot the country.

Special autonomy packages will be extended to the major separatist
hotspots of Aceh and Irian Jaya by May, measures the government
hopes will ease bloodshed and growing calls for independence in the
two resource-rich provinces.

Aceh is on the northern tip of Sumatra island while Irian Jaya is
in the far east of the archipelago.

Regions get 80 per cent of revenue from general mining, forestry
and fisheries in their territory, 30 per cent from gas and 15 per
cent from oil - businesses that have attracted most big global
firms.

Local authorities will also have more freedom administering health,
education, land rights and investment approvals.

The autonomy package, based on laws passed in 1999, is meant to
cool decades of resentment over Jakarta's tight grip on state
coffers and ease separatist tensions.