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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Maluku Refugees & Irian Jaya (3 articles)
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Papua could become a second Ambon
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Subj: SCMP: War party confronts exhausted refugees in W. Papua
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Subj: AFP: Irian Jaya impounds refugee-laden ferry from Malukus Subj: [wp] Walhi sues Freeport over fatal accident
======================================================== Subj: [wp] Fwd: Rebel flag goes down in Jayapura
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Copyright 2000
Date: 7/31/00 6:30:16 PM Central Daylight Time
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Monday, July 31 3:42 PM SGT
Fate unclear for tens of thousands of unwanted Maluku refugees
JAKARTA, July 31 (AFP)
The fate of tens of thousands of Indonesian refugees fleeing bloody
sectarian violence in the Malukus remained uncertain Monday as at
least two neighbouring provinces refused to receive them.
The "KM Dobonsolo" ferry carrying 4,215 passengers, 1,207 of them
refugees, remained impounded off Jayapura, the main city in Irian
Jaya province, after arriving Sunday from Ambon, capital of the
Malukus.
Local authorities refused the state-owned ferry permission to berth
or to disembark the refugees over fears they might bring further
violence with them.
The state news agency Antara said local authorities at three earlier
stops on Irian Jaya -- Sorong, Manokwari and Biak -- had also
refused the refugees entry.
On Monday, the province of North Sulawesi, another common
destination for Christian refugees fleeing the Malukus, was also
reported as saying it would stop accepting refugees.
North Sulawesi Vice Governor Freddy Sualang was quoted by the Kompas
daily as saying the province was experiencing "difficulties" in
handling more than 30,000 refugees from the Muslim-Christian
violence in the Malukus and Central Sulawesi.
"North Sulawesi is now closed to new refugees. It is still possible
for it to be used as a transit place, but not as a place of (final)
destination due to the impossible conditions," Sualang said.
In Irian Jaya, a port official who identified himself as Yunus told
AFP by telephone the Dobonsolo "remains unable to berth at our port
and its presence still poses a problem.
"For the moment, the refugees still remain on the ship because the
authorities and the public have yet to allow them to disembark."
Antara on Sunday said military and civil leaders had forced the
Dobonsolo to remain anchored about a mile (1.5 kilometres) out to
sea.
The Muslim-Christian violence in the Malukus has claimed some 4,000
lives and displaced over half a million people in the past 18
months.
Local authorities in other regions are refusing to receive the
refugees over concerns they might foment new unrest in the region,
use weapons they have carried from the Malukus and that they might
be unable to cope with the influx.
In Irian Jaya the authorities have also impounded the ferry, barring
it from leaving the port until the central government gives a clear
idea on how it plans to settle the Malukus conflict.
Local authorities have also demanded the government outline their
proposals for handling the flood of refugees.
Yunus said both port and city officials were "still trying to figure
out how to provide medical treatment for the elderly, pregnant and
sick passengers" on board the Dobonsolo.
He said none of the ferry passengers had disembarked.
"Not a single passenger has yet to get off the ship," Yunus said,
adding the province's administrators were "still trying to find a
way to solve this problem."
Yunus added state shipping company PT Pelni was "responsible for
providing food for the refugees and other passengers."
"Pelni has provided food for the ship since yesterday and it will
have to continue to do so as long as they remain on the ship," he
said.
Violence between Christians and Muslims in the Malukus was sparked
by a dispute between a Christian public transport driver and a
migrant Muslim in Ambon on January 19, 1999.
The clash quickly degenerated into mass violence between the two
groups and spread to other islands.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Indonesian Observer
Tuesday, August 01 – 2000
Irian Jaya to take refugees
JAKARTA (IO) — A meeting of local government officials, priests,
security forces, separatist leaders and students in West Papua
(Irian Jaya) yesterday agreed to temporarily accommodate almost
1,000 refugees from the bloodied spice islands of Maluku.
The Dobonsolo vessel, carrying the desperate refugees, last Thursday
tried to dock at West Papua’s Sorong Port, but locals tried to
attack the passengers and refused to let them disembark. The vessel
then sailed to Jayapura, where until yesterday, locals had only
allowed the sick, elderly and pregnant women to come to shore.
Antara reported that yesterday’s meeting was chaired by Irian Jaya
Deputy Governor Abraham Atururi. Many locals don’t want the refugees
allowed in, fearing it is part of a government conspiracy to make
natives outnumbered in their own territory. Others claimed the
refugees would incite religious violence.
But religious figures said that as good Christians, the people of
West Papua must help those who are in need. According to a statement
read after the meeting by Christian preacher Herman Awon, the
refugees must be accommodated in the province for two or three
months.
“For the sake of humanity, we accept the victims of the Ambon
conflict carried by the Dobonsolo ferry.”
Before the results of yesterday’s meeting were announced, Human
Rights Minister Hasballah M. Saad in Jakarta blasted residents of
the remote eastern province for refusing to accept the refugees.
“The rejections are over-the-top because those people are refugees,
including women and children, who are victims of conflicts,”
Hasballah told reporters after a meeting with President Abdurrahman
Wahid at the presidential office.
The minister said he would send a senior official from his ministry
to attempt to resolve the problem. He expressed hope that locals
would at least receive the refugees temporarily.
“If they are not received, they will starve to death,” he asserted.
According to Hasballah, who is from the National Mandate Party
(PAN), the Dobonsolo will later head to Sulawesi and Surabaya (East
Java). There were reportedly 968 people on board the ferry. The
passengers are victims of the long-standing conflict in the Malukus
between Muslims and Christians.
Papua Presidium Council member Jhon Mambor had also expressed
concern over the rejection.
“It is very concerning that locals and the administration reject the
refugees. As a religious society we must accept them and give help
to them, not impound them,” he was quoted as saying by Antara in
Jayapura.
He said that since the clashes started in Maluku in January 1999,
some seaports in West Papua have became transit points for refugees
who want to continue to other Indonesian regions.
“It is very concerning because they would have had to have fought to
get on that ferry. So how would they feel about being impounded?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
August 01, 2000
Jayapura accepts refugees fleeing strife-torn Maluku
SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): The remaining 968 refugees fleeing
strife-torn Maluku on board the KM Dobonsolo disembarked in Jayapura
on Monday.
"After a few days of disputes and rejection from some locals, the
refugees were finally dropped off in Jayapura and will be sheltered
temporarily at the naval base here," a police officer in Jayapura
said in a telephone interview.
The Dobonsolo has reportedly departed for the towns of Biak and Fak
Fak in Irian Jaya before heading for Kupang in East Nusa Tenggara.
The ferry, which carried 4,215 passengers, about 1,200 of whom were
refugees, was impounded off Jayapura after arriving on Sunday from
the Maluku capital of Ambon.
Local administration prohibited the state-owned ferry from berthing
or disembarking the refugees, citing fear that they might bring
further violence to the area.
The decision on whether to allow the Maluku refugees to enter Irian
Jaya was heatedly debated in a coordinated meeting presided over by
Deputy Governor Brig. Gen. (ret) Abraham O. Atururi and attended by
Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas, Irian Jaya Navy Base
commander Commodore Franklin W. Kayhattu, provincial councillors and
community leaders on Monday afternoon, Antara reported.
Both Wenas and Franklin, however, urged the local leaders to accept
the refugees for humanitarian reasons.
"Do not confuse a benevolent action with political motives. The
refugees are in a very poor condition and need our help," Wenas
said.
Franklin, however, said his troops were ready to take firm action if
any of the refugees instigated riots in the country's easternmost
province.
After hours of acrimonious debate, which ended in the evening, the
Irianese civilian guards agreed to accept the refugees.
But an incident broke out at almost the same time, when the Maluku
refugees rushed back to the Dobonsolo and demanded the crew return
them to Ambon. The dispute remained unsettled as of 10 p.m. local
time, witnesses said.
Separately in Ambon, Governor Saleh Latuconsina said he sent the
list of passengers on board to the Irian Jaya governor in a bid to
recheck the travelers.
"May I say here that not all of those passengers are refugees. There
are three categories, the first are those who want to reach Tual in
North Maluku but have to transit in Manokwari. The second group are
merely visitors and the third band comprises refugees," Latuconsina
said, adding that so far there were no changes to the vessel's
route.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, Governor H. ZB Palaguna urged the
central government on Monday to take concrete steps to deal with
Maluku refugees who were denied entry into Irian Jaya.
"South Sulawesi is one of the popular destinations for refugees
arriving from areas ravaged by communal clashes, such as Irian Jaya,
Maluku, East Timor and Poso," he said.
"The government is obliged to take care of them and protect them
from possible terror and intimidation."
He said, however, that he could understand why certain areas could
not accept people from other places. "Seeking refuge in our own
country is more honorable than seeking asylum abroad."
Back in Maluku, Governor Latuconsina and security authorities
inspected the ravaged village of Waai on Monday following an
overnight fray which killed at least one person and wounded six
others.
Waai, which is about 28 kilometers south of Ambon, was attacked for
the third time this month after armed rioters from the predominantly
Muslim Tulehu and Liang villages raided the area on Sunday at about
10 a.m. local time.
"The situation seems relatively calm, but we're still collecting
more data," Latuconsina said after the 30-minute inspection. He was
accompanied by Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa and
Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani. (48/49/27/edt/sur)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Date: 7/31/00 6:30:21 PM Central Daylight Time
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From: TAPOL
Suara Pembaruan
Friday, 28-7-2000
Drs Aloysius Renwarin : Papua could become a second Ambon
Drs Aloysius Renwarin, Director of the human rights NGO, ELS-HAM
Papua, is afraid that there are signs that Papua could become a
second Ambon. He said that a large quantity of weapons has been
seized while criminal activities are rampant with the security
forces doing nothing to stop them.
He told Suara Pembaruan on Friday that investigations undertaken
during the past two weeks, along with reports from the people, had
revealed that many automatic weapons, home-made weapons, explosives
and bombs had been discovered in a number of places.
He said that present conditions in Papua could be described as a
time-bomb waiting to explode; reports of the discovery of weapons
were being received from many places.
‘All the ingredients are there for a bitter horizontal conflict,’
said Aloysius. There has been an increase in such activities as
gambling, thefts, hijacking taxis and the like, all of which could
trigger such conflicts, he said.
He also urged the provincial chief of police to tell the public what
exactly he means by his so-called ‘friendly approach’ on matters of
law and order. The general public interpret this as being a policy
of allowing any acts of public disorder to happen.
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. "
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Date: 7/31/00 4:31:57 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, tapol@gn.apc.org, westpapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
South China Morning Post
Monday, July 31, 2000
INDONESIA
War party confronts exhausted refugees
VAUDINE ENGLAND
Large Papuan women with hatchets resting between their feet and men in war
paint with traditional tall bows and arrows yesterday stopped refugees from
the strife-torn Maluku Islands coming ashore in Irian Jaya.
The show of strength in Jayapura, where thousands of residents gathered at
the port, marked the fourth time in a week that the refugees had been turned
away from the province.
"I am originally from Ambon but we in Jayapura do not want refugees from
Ambon coming here. We will allow women, children and elderly people perhaps,
but we know the others will bring problems. We don't want the fighting
between Muslims and Christians to come here," said a man in the crowd.
"It's not that we don't want refugees, it is that we don't want their
problems," said the man who was part of the narrow, sullen human corridor
through which other passengers had to pass.
Also at the port gate were about 200 riot police, dogs sniffing for
explosives, a Marine platoon, some 100 soldiers and about 35 intelligence
officers.
Officials denied a deal had been made between the Government and the
pro-independence militia, Satgas Papua. But events on the ground showed an
accommodation had been reached: so long as no one carrying an Ambon identity
card was allowed through, other disembarkations could proceed.
Soldiers, policemen and Marines helped other passengers disembark from the
troubled vessel Pelni, which had been refused entry at the Irian Jaya ports
of Sorong, Manokwari and Biak before reaching Jayapura yesterday.
Given the ship's problems on its 10-day journey from Jakarta via the Maluku
capital, Ambon, the authorities started discussions on Friday about how to
cope in Jayapura. The decision reached was to divide the more than 2,000
exhausted passengers into three categories: people originally from Jayapura
trying to come home, people from Sorong who were unable to disembark there
last week, and Ambon "refugees".
Passengers had their state identity cards checked on the ship before members
of the first two categories were allowed to struggle off small loading boats
into the crowd. Every few paces, aggressive-looking Papuans, many in
traditional bird-feather garb and face paint, demanded to see their identity
cards again. Flying over the tense scene was a full-size "Morning Star"
Papuan independence flag, which conveyed the widespread desire for
independence from Indonesia.
About 1,000 people fleeing the communal strife which has plagued the Maluku
for 18 months remained on board the ship moored in Jayapura's scenic bay
overnight. Food was taken to them and one woman who had just delivered a baby
was taken away by ambulance - with police on every street corner to ensure
her safe passage.
The Ambonese refugees still on board will be sent away yet again, this time
back up to the largely Christian city of Manado in North Sulawesi. Whoever
was not taken in by Manado would be sent on to Kupang in West Timor, a police
officer said, adding this had already been agreed with the authorities in
Kupang.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
Date: 7/31/00 4:31:29 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, tapol@gn.apc.org, westpapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Irian Jaya impounds refugee-laden ferry from Malukus
JAKARTA, July 30 (AFP) - Authorities in the Indonesian province of Irian Jaya
were Sunday reported to have impounded a ferry laden with more than 1,200
refugees fleeing bloody sectarian unrest in the Maluku islands.
The state Antara news agency said military and civil leaders in the port of
Jayapura were forcing the ferry "KM Dobonsolo" to remain anchored about a
mile (1.5 kilometres) out to sea.
The authorities were allowing passengers bound for Jayapura to disembark but
only after undergoing a thorough check, the agency said quoting provincial
legislators.
The elderly, pregnant and sick would also be allowed to leave the ferry for
medical treatment, Antara said.
But all passengers with no identity documents or tickets would be barred from
landing.
The "Dobonsolo", which had stopped over in Ambon, the main town in the
Malukus where 4,000 people have died and half a million driven from their
homes in Muslim-Christian violence in the past 18 months, was carrying 4,215
passengers, of which 1,207 were refugees.
The "Dobonsolo" will be detained in Jayapura until the central Indonesian
government gives a date for the settlement of the unrest in the Malukus, said
Antara.
President Abdurrahman Wahid's government would also have to outline its plans
for the hundreds of thousands of refugees which have fled the Malukus for
other parts of Indonesia, including Irian Jaya.
Irian Jaya Vice Governor Abraham Ataruri told Antara: "The refugees are not
allowed to disembark and the security personnel have been ordered to
thoroughly check on the ticket and identity of the passengers before they are
allowed to disembark."
Legislator Frans Kormat said the decision to impound the state-owned ferry
was expected to be signed by the leaders of the provincial administration and
the legislature and sent to the central government.
Harbour towns in Irian Jaya, including Sorong, Manokwari and Jayapura, have
been growing ever more reluctant to accept refugees from the Malukus over
fears their regions could be used to foment further unrest.
They also fear weapons and explosives carried by some refugees will be used
in Irian Jaya.
Meanwhile on Ambon island in the Malukus, Muslim villagers killed one man as
they attacked the already devastated village of Waai for the second time this
month.
Sammy Weileruni, a lawyer from the joint Christian coordination post at
Maranatha church in Ambon city southwest of Waai, said the attack was
launched from two directions around 10:00 a.m. (0100 GMT).
It involved villagers from the nearby Muslim settlements of Tulehu and Liang,
he said.
"The attack took place as some of the villagers were still at church,"
Weileruni said.
He said one 40-year-old man, identified only as Manuputty, was confirmed
dead. Two others were seriously injured.
Three hours after the fighting began, the village was still under fire and
being hit by mortars, Weileruni said.
"We have alerted the military and they arrived there almost five hours after
the attack but they suddenly withdrew less then two hours later even though
the fighting was still going on," he said.
Waai had been recovering from a similar attack on July 5 and 6 which left
only 14 of hundreds of houses standing and prompted more than 2,000 elderly
people, women and children to evacuate.
The village still has a population of some 6,000.
Violence between Christians and Muslims in the Malukus was sparked by a
dispute between a Christian public transport driver and a migrant Muslim in
Ambon on January 19, 1999.
The clash quickly degenerated into mass violence between the two groups and
spread to other islands.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
=======================================================
Subj: SCMP: Vision of Papuan Freedom Spells Danger for Province
Date: 7/31/00 4:31:52 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, tapol@gn.apc.org, westpapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
also: Papuan separatists hold peaceful protest; and Maluku Muslim warriors
discovered in West Papua.
South China Morning Post
Monday, July 31, 2000
INDONESIA
Vision of Papuan freedom spells danger for province
VAUDINE ENGLAND in Jayapura, Irian Jaya
Tension is rising in the province of Irian Jaya, with almost daily incidents
of protest, killing or intimidation occurring across the vast land mass.
A combination of indicators - ranging from a sudden lack of public transport
to outright riots - suggest serious instability is threatening Indonesia's
eastern-most province and last frontier.
"We have now a very high potential for conflict," says John Rumbiak, of the
human rights advocacy group, Elsham. "And mentally, Jakarta is so far away,
so distanced from the situation here now, it's crazy. It seems the Government
doesn't understand and doesn't care."
The obvious cause for concern is the insistent aspiration of most Papuans -
the original residents of Irian Jaya - for independence. At a congress in
June, thousands trekked for days to express their wish for independence from
Indonesia, which claimed sovereignty in 1963 when the former Dutch
administration withdrew.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid is believed by many in Irian Jaya to
be personally sympathetic to demands for talks and even a gradual transition
towards greater local autonomy. But Mr Wahid is stymied by his inability to
control the armed forces and by the strongly held Indonesian belief in the
unity of their nation forged from the Dutch colonial empire.
But aside from the independence movement, which remains avowedly peaceful, a
series of recent incidents suggest other forces are also at work, leaving
analysts to ponder the usual dilemma of attributing such events to mere
incompetence or to conspiracy.
On July 8, a mob destroyed the main market of Sentani, the airport town near
Jayapura and the ramifications from that incident continue. The drama began
during a drunken brawl at a local brothel on the shores of Lake Sentani. A
Papuan was killed, apparently by migrants from Sulawesi.
A mob then destroyed the market - run largely by Bugis migrants from South
Sulawesi who, unlike most Papuans, are Muslim. Interestingly, the adjacent
mosque was not touched.
Depending on who one talks to, this is because Papuans chose to stop their
destructive rampage at that point, or because the riot was provoked by the
Bugis in the first place - who themselves chose to save their mosque.
Police arrested four Papuans, allegedly without investigation, and severely
beat one suspect, throwing him into a truck and then shooting him in the leg.
He remains handcuffed to a bed in Jayapura's main hospital.
Meanwhile, local residents note that Bugis traders had emptied their stalls
the day before the attack, suggesting they had been warned of trouble in
advance.
That was just one incident. Reports continue to come in daily of new
problems. Despite the verbal assurances from Mr Wahid that Papuans may raise
their "Morning Star" independence flag in public, local police continue to
get in the way - beating those who try, shooting in the air, or simply sawing
off the metal flag poles, as happened last week on the outskirts of Jayapura.
Jakarta's inaction has led hundreds of displaced non-Papuans to seek shelter
near Jayapura. The refugees, who had agreed to be part of the Government's
transmigration programme, now say they just want to go home. At the same
time, thousands of distraught refugees are arriving from the devastated
Maluku Islands, adding to the danger of an already fractious mix.
As in many parts of Indonesia, it is the voluntary migration of some ethnic
groups, such as the assertive traders from South Sulawesi, which has skewed
local commerce and administration. But some of these people fear the
consequences of a looming independence struggle and are packing up and
leaving.
"This combination of social problems builds demands for independence among
Papuans," said Mr Rumbiak. "And security personnel don't do anything except
seemingly encourage the troubles. Wahid is in a state of political deadlock,
the political process with the Papuans has reached its own traffic jam. And
there are people here managing the conflict in ways which will only make
things worse," he said.
Armed militia already exist, both for and against independence, and many
ordinary Papuans aspiring to freedom are swept into militaristic groups
before they realise, say rights activists. "After being repressed for so
long, people are now letting it all out, supposedly in the name of the
[independence] struggle. It's a very dangerous time," said Mr Rumbiak.
------------------
AFP, July 31, 2000
Papuan separatists hold peaceful protest
JAKARTA -- At least 15,000 separatists staged a peaceful protest in the Irian
Jaya town of Manokwari yesterday to mark the 1969 referendum that turned the
island into an Indonesian province.
The Papuans covered a monument commemorating the referendum with black cloth,
saying it was a monument to a historical lie.
The ceremony at the People's Referendum Monument was led by the chairman of
the Manokwari Tribal Institute, Mr Barnabas Mandacan, the state Antara news
agency said.
The separatist ""Morning Star'' flag was raised, along with the Indonesian
red-and-white emblem. For years, raising the Morning Star flag was outlawed
in Irian Jaya, now known officially as West Papua.
The crowd dispersed peacefully after four hours.
--------------
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Asia-Pacific Report, July 24, 2000
-summary only, to listen to full report go to http below-
Maluku Muslim warriors discovered in West Papua.
100-Muslim warriors from the Maluku Islands in Indonesia have been discovered
training near the West Papua town of Sorong. John Rumbiak from the West Papua
human rights group ELSHAM believes sections of the Indonesian military
opposed to President Wahid, are behind the arrival of the warriors. He told
Andrew Kilvert, unless there's international intervention in the Malukus,
West Papua could soon face religious warfare.
to listen to full report go to:
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/summaries/2000/jul00.htm
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
=======================================================
Subj: [wp] AFP: Police start pulling down Papuan separatist flags after two shot dead
Date: 7/30/00 1:58:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: plovers@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Police pull down Papuan separatist flags after two shot dead
JAKARTA, July 29 (AFP) - Police in Indonesia's restive province of Irian Jaya
said Saturday they had started pulling down the separatist "Morning Star"
flag because residents there were ignoring regulations.
"The public here do not follow the official procedures. They raised the rebel
flags almost everywhere, in state-owned facilities such as one in the
Pertamina (state oil company) office here," Superintendent Victor Sitorus
told AFP from the province's coastal city of Sorong.
For years raising the Morning Star flag was outlawed in Irian Jaya, now
unofficially known as West Papua.
However under an agreement earlier this year Jakarta and local authorities
said the flag could be flown alongside the national flag, as long as it was
smaller and not raised higher.
Many Sorong residents had also failed to follow a "one flag per district"
stipulation issued by Jakarta last month, Sitorus added.
Sitorus was speaking after hospital staff in Sorong reported that two people
had been shot dead during a protest against the pulling down of the flag.
He himself flatly denied that there had been any casualties in the incident.
President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Saturday that Jakarta still used the
official name of 'Irian Jaya' for the resource-rich province, but that he
refered to it unofficially as Papua.
"Frankly speaking our law still refer the term Irian Jaya but the people (in
the province) want it to be called Papua," Wahid said.
"Therefore, I, personally and unofficially, always use Papua. But for
official purposes I have to use Irian Jaya," the president said after a mass
prayer session here.
Wahid said he hoped that people in the country's easternmost province could
"understand the matter ... because no matter what, I am just a president who
still has to obey the law."
Irian Jaya, where separatists have been waging a low level guerilla war
against the government for three decades, has seen intensified calls for
independence since the fall of former president Suharto in May 1998.
The separatists are demanding an independent West Papua state.
A Free Papua state was declared by Irian Jaya leaders, when the territory was
still a Dutch colony, on December 1, 1961.
Under an arrangement with the United Nations in 1963 Indonesia took over
administration of the territory, after an "act of free choice" in 1969.
But most people from the province, which shares a land border with
independent Papua New Guinea, reject the act.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
___________________________________________________________
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Subj: SCMP: Six die as Maluku conflict spreads
Date: 7/30/00 1:57:50 PM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, tapol@gn.apc.org, westpapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
South China Morning Post
Saturday, July 29, 2000
INDONESIA
Six die as Maluku conflict spreads
VAUDINE ENGLAND in Jayapura, Irian Jaya
A protest in the Irian Jayan port city of Sorong yesterday left six people
dead, highlighting the spread of problems from the tortured Maluku Islands as
thousands flee the communal conflict.
At least 4,000 people have perished in the Malukus, also known as the Spice
Islands, as a result of fighting between Christians and Muslims.
On Wednesday, a ship from the Maluku capital of Ambon carrying 2,000 refugees
arrived at Sorong, but didn't dock immediately because of an angry crowd
which had gathered on the shore. Mostly Christian, the displaced people are
seeking shelter with friends or relatives living in Irian Jaya amid a
continuing absence of government help or concern.
The boat eventually docked, but violence broke out shortly after between
police and men believed to be militias. It is understood the militias were
trying to stop the boat from unloading, but there was also a dispute over
tickets.
Reports from the area remain confused as to whether the fatalities were
caused by uniformed police from the Mobile Brigade, or by unidentified men in
plain clothes. If it is the latter, human rights sources say the incident
supports growing fears that the diaspora from the Maluku Islands is being
used by rogue military men to spread conflict further across Indonesia's
troubled periphery.
The vessel is due to sail for Ambon on Monday, but port officials in Sorong
decided yesterday it would be unsafe to disembark passengers at Ambon.
The latest arrival brings the total number of such "refugees" in Irian to
about 18,000, reinforcing fears that the destabilisation, which has reduced
Ambon and other Maluku cities to rubble, could soon infect Irian Jaya.
"I am worried that if more refugees are coming here, then the same problems
will come too," said Chris Mailoa, head of the recently-formed Association
for Maluku People in Irian Jaya. "We are very scared about it. You know how
easy it is for some provocateurs to be among those refugees, and who knows
where it will stop?" he said from his home in Abepura, near Jayapura, which
is becoming a headquarters for relief work for the refugees.
Recent calls from local and foreign church groups for international
intervention in the Malukus are echoed by anyone associated with the crisis.
Mr Mailoa believes such help is needed not only for people still in the
islands, but to forestall the export of the trouble elsewhere in Indonesia.
"We need international help," said Mr Mailoa. "We need donations of food and
money. We need troops from abroad to separate the fighters. We need it now."
Indonesia University sociologist, Dr Imam B. Prasodjo, agrees that as the
Malukan conflict snowballs, it could trigger a domino effect in other
islands.
"The domino effect may start with the refugees. They could consolidate during
evacuation, then go home to pick up a fight again," he told the Indonesian
newspaper Kompas. "If this conflict spreads to West Papua [Irian Jaya] then
[non-Papuan] settlers would evacuate. But, they might nourish a grudge since
they have been there for generations.
"Because the majority of the population [in Irian Jaya] are mainly Christians
and settlers are mainly Muslims, another sectarian conflict might be in the
making," he said. Initial reports from Sorong had described the disturbance
as an attempt by Papuans to raise their Morning Star independence flag, which
apparently caused policemen to shoot two men dead.
Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has verbally assured Papuans they may
raise their flag until later in August, but local police have frequently been
unwilling to follow this policy.
Human rights researchers say that although such incidents have occurred
recently, causing deaths and injuries in several locations around Irian Jaya,
the latest trouble in Sorong has more complex beginnings and is indicative of
the tinderbox of troubles now afflicting Indonesia's easternmost province.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
=======================================================
Subj: Kompas: Six Recommendations For Freeport Contract
Date: 7/30/00 1:57:45 PM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Kompas
Saturday, 29 July 2000
Six Recommendations For Freeport Contract
The PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) Contract Evaluation Team has forwarded six
recommendations in June for consideration of the company's contract to the
Coordinating Minister for Economy and Industry, Kwik Kian Gie.
One of the recommendations concerns re-evaluation of PT Freeport's production
levels and the company's duty to start a program for share divestment.
These matters were brought to attention by the Director General General
Mining and Energy, Surna Tjahja Djajadiningrat and other sources of the
Mining and Energy Department in Jakarta, Friday (28/7).
"We delivered the report of PT Freeport's Work Contract Evaluation Team to
the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Industry in order to
define a policy for PT Freeport," Surna Tjahja told Kompas.
He refused to go into detail about the six recommendations. "I am not
authorized to divulge something before a decision is taken by the
Coordinating Minister. It is not ethical," he said.
"Whether they will be approved by the Coordinating Minister or not, I can't
assure that as they are still being checked out by the respective ministry.
But, the Coordinating Ministeer will announce a decision early in September,"
he added.
While Coordinating Minister Economy and Industry, Kwik Kian Gie said when
approached to confirm the matter, that he had received PT Freeport's report,
but, that it still has to be studied.
Unable
Surna Tjahja explained that the Evaluation Team brought up PT Freeport's
inability to produce 300.000 ton ore per day as agreed in the company's IInd
work contract. This inability became clear with the Lake Wanagon disaster,
while at the time the company had been permitted to produce 260.000 ton ore
per day only.
"The Team's evaluations entailed the company's inability to deliver 300.000
ton ore per day. It arrived at this conclusion when the Wanagon disaster took
place, at the time PTFI was producing only 260.000 ton ore per day," Surna
Tjahja said.
Asked if this meant that Freeport should lower its production capacity, Surna
Tjahja said: "I rather not answer that question. A decision is to be taken by
the Coordinating Minister for Economy and Industry."
Divestment of shares
Meanwhile, a source in the Mining and Energy Department preferring anonymity
said, another recommendation concerns also PT Freeport's duty to start share
divestment.
On this subject, the Mining and Energy Minister once did remark that the
draft of Government Rule No. 20/1994 dealing with local shares in foreign
companies, is, indeed, rife with the spirit of corruption, collusion and
nepotism and that it is no longer in line with present developments.
"The Mining and Energy Minister will offer a suggestion to Coordinating
Minister Kwik Kian Gie, to take a look into Government Rule No. 20/1994,
which makes divestment of shares to local parties impossible. If Government
Rule No. 20/1994 proves to be outdated, unfair and provocative in nature,
then, there should be no problem to change it," the Mining and Energy
Minister said then.
PT Freeport could not confirm the recommendation suggesting the company's
inability of producing 300.000 ton ore per day. Kompas could not get in touch
with the company's managing spokesman, Siddharta Moersjid, the number of his
hand phone had been altered.
In March, Mining and Energy Minister, Bambang Yudhoyono, reminded that
Freeport could be facing serious risks if the Evaluation Team of PT
Freeport's Work Contract would find evidence that the company has violated
one of the rules in their agreement with the Indonesian Government.
This Evaluation Team was authorized to re-examine the company's
production/marketing system, legal matters including divestment of shares,
community development, environment and mining technique. (*)
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
=======================================================
Date: 7/28/00 12:42:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: plovers@gn.apc.org
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, tapol@gn.apc.org, WestPapua@topica.com, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesian Observer
Friday, July 28 - 2000
Walhi sues Freeport over fatal accident
JAKARTA (IO) The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) has sued
mining giant PT Freeport Indonesia over an accident that killed four of
the company’s workers.
The employees died on May 4 at the hugely profitable mining company’s base
in West Papua (Irian Jaya) province when a pile of waste rock collapsed on
them following several days of heavy rainfall.
Walhi yesterday submitted a lawsuit to the South Jakarta District Court,
complaining that Freeport had failed to disclose information about the
accident.
Walhi Director Executive Emmy Hafild told reporters the public has a right
to know about Freeport’s environmental conservation policies, especially
its disposal of waste materials.
"The company has not given true information about its environmental
program, therefore it has violated Article 6 of the Environment Management
Law," she said.
Freeport officials insist the May landslide at the banks of Lake Wanagon
was caused by heavy rainfall, but conservationists accuse the company of
unsafe waste disposal practices.
Walhi lawyer Erdwiyanto Pihartono said Freeport should go to court because
it had no permit to dump waste at Lake Wanagon.
But he said Walhi cannot sue the company from an environmental point of
view, because the forum has accepted the mining company’s environmental
impact analysis.
Walhi said Freeport should apologize for the May accident by placing
advertisements in the national and international mass media.
Freeport, a subsidiary of New Orleans-based Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold
Inc, made an average profit of just under US$2 million a week in 1999 from
the vast mine it operates in mountains near Timika.
Shortly after the May landslide, Environment Minister Sonny Keraf mulled
suspending production at the Grasberg copper and gold mine. However,
production has continued.
The lucrative Grasberg mine has been at the center of controversy in Irian
Jaya for years. Critics accuse Freeport of environmental damage,
exploitation, cultural insensitivity and failure to share enough of the
benefits from the mine with local people.
But Freeport insists it maintains the highest environmental and safety
standards and says it has made strenuous efforts to promote social
improvements in Irian Jaya.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
___________________________________________________________
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Date: 7/26/00 12:58:15 PM Central Daylight Time
From: cscheiner@igc.org (Charles Scheiner)
Reply-to: cscheiner@igc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com
Indonesian Observer
Wednesday, July 26 - 2000
Rebel flag goes down in Jayapura
JAKARTA (IO) Just one day after President Abdurrahman Wahid said people
in West Papua (Irian Jaya) are permitted to hoist the separatist Morning
Star flag, anti-riot police yesterday dispersed a crowd of natives who had
tried to raise the flag in the provincial capital, Jayapura.
Wahid on Monday said the people of Irian Jaya could raise their pro-
independence flags until the end of the August 7-18 annual session of the
People's Consultative Assembly.
Police in Jayapura yesterday cited the government's order that Papuan
flags must be smaller than Indonesian flags, and cannot be flown as high
as the so-called Red and White.
Jayapura Police Chief Superintendent Daud Sihombing said the crowd of
would-be flag raisers in Ardipura village was dispersed peacefully.
"We took direct action to disperse them, as there is no agreement between
the government and the Papua Presidium Council allowing such [rebel] flags
to be hoisted in the village," he said.
Sihombing said an agreement between the Irian Jaya administration and
Papua Presidium Council stipulates that each regency in the province is
entitled to fly only one Morning Star flag. Whenever the Morning Star flag
is raised, it must be accompanied by a bigger and higher Indonesian flag,
he added.
Former political prisoner Yunus Runaweri, who was among the crowd of would-
be flag raisers, said police were out of order because they had prevented
natives from expressing their aspirations.
He said raising a flag is nothing compared to the thousands of human
rights violations that West Papuans have suffered at the hands of the
Indonesian military since the region was occupied by Indonesia in 1963.
Yunus, a former member of the local administration, said the police had
behaved unfairly and inhumanely.
On June 4, the Papuan People's Congress closed with the declaration that
West Papua had never legally been part of Indonesia.
Rebel leaders, such as Theys Eluay, then declared independence and
encouraged natives to raise Morning Star flags.
___________________________________________________________
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