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IRIAN JAYA (WEST PAPUA, NEW GUINEA): THE QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE-NOVEMBER 1, 2000 TO ----------------------------

THE RECORD
NOVEMBER 1, 2000 TO ------------

=======================================================

IS WEST PAPUA A NEW EAST TIMOR?
Christians Caught Between Jakarta and Pro-Independence Camp

JAYAPURA, Indonesia, DEC. 1, 2000 (ZENIT.org).- Civil unrest in the eastern
Indonesian province of Irian Jaya threatens to harm Christians and others
caught in the war between a growing independence movement and the Jakarta
government.

"We anticipate Dec. 1 with anxiety, since last month's massacre of
Indonesians and many Christians," the Rev. Bangun Manurung told the Compass
Direct agency. The pastor of the Bethel Church of Indonesia, in Jayapura,
the main city of Irian Jaya, is one of many non-Papuans who live here. A
controversial program, begun by the Jakarta government in the 1970s, has
resettled thousands of residents of other Indonesian islands in Irian Jaya.

Dec. 1 is the date Papuans celebrate the hoped-for independence of their
province, Irian Jaya -- a bitter day to many because West Papua, as they
call it, is still part of Indonesia.

Indonesia's de facto annexation of the western side of the island of Papua
in the early 1960s (the eastern side is the independent Papua-New Guinea),
and the repression that followed, triggered the independent-minded, and
sometimes violent, Free Papua Movement, or OPM.

Irian Jaya is predominantly Christian, which attracts many Indonesian
Christians from other parts of this country of 224 million. Muslims
comprise 88% of Indonesia's population, Protestants 5% and Catholics 3%.
The region's volatile situation has been evident in recent years in East
Timor and the Moluccas Islands, all west of Irian Jaya.

Non-Papuans fear violent activity because they are often targeted when
conflicts occur, for instance, when the OPM challenges the Indonesian
government's sovereignty. In fact, their fears were realized Oct. 6, when
dozens were killed and injured in reprisal violence in Wamena, a town in
the Baliem Valley, Irian Jaya's central highlands.

"It all started when the Wamena police asked the people not to fly the
Papuan flag of independence, in keeping with a ruling of President
Abdurrahman Wahid," pastor Manurung said. "Somehow violence was avoided
that morning, but later on, in the afternoon, thousands of Papuans from the
villages surrounding Wamena descended on the town and attacked non-Papuans,
killing, maiming and burning property."

The Protestant pastor added: "They used axes and bows and arrows, and set
alight people's houses and buildings, trapping them inside. Forty persons
were killed, and hundreds wounded, many of them Christians. One pastor was
killed, burnt alive in a flaming building."

It seems that no group was spared. When Papuans from the coastal areas
tried to help the non-Papuan Indonesians, they were attacked by highland
Papuans. Muslims were also among those killed and injured.

"I can say that it is not safe for non-Papuans to be in Irian Jaya at the
moment," the pastor alerted. "Even the teachers and nurses here want to
leave. Many people are sending their families back to Sumatra, Sulawesi or
Java. The boats and planes are fully booked well into next year."

Manurung added: "Please ask Christians to pray for us at this time. It is
likely that the OPM will continue to challenge the Indonesian government,
particularly during December, and try to fly the Morning Star as often as
possible."
ZE00120104

=======================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Academic:Papuan Pasts timetable
Date: 11/6/00 12:31:45 AM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Date: Mon, 6 Nov 2000 15:56:20 +1100
From: Andy Pawley
To: "Linguistic Prehistory Archaeology, and related disciplines"

Dear all

Herewith the timetable for the forthcoming Papuan Pasts conference.

Andy Pawley

____________
PAPUAN PASTS:
Investigations into the cultural, linguistic
and biological history of
the Papuan speaking peoples

November 27-30, 2000
Research School of Pacific & Asian Studies
Australian National University

The aim of this conference is to bring together scholars from various
disciplines - principally archaeology, linguistics, biological
anthropology, cultural anthropology and the environmental sciences - to
examine questions about the prehistory of the indigenous peoples of
Melanesia and eastern Indonesia who speak Papuan (non-Austronesian)
languages.

Questions posed by the distribution of language stocks provide one jumping
off point for discussion. The 800 Papuan languages present in Melanesia and
in the Timor-Halmahera region fall into more than a dozen distinct genetic
stocks and isolates, some of which probably derive from very early human
settlement of Melanesia. Within the last few millennia one of these stocks,
the Trans New Guinea (TNG) Phylum, has undergone a spectacular expansion of
its range. Speakers of TNG languages now occupy most of the inhabited
regions of New Guinea and are also present in Timor, Alor and Pantar. What
forces triggered this linguistic expansion? Could it have been associated
with the development of root crop agriculture? Why did the TNG expansion
not extend to certain regions of New Guinea (much of the Sepik and Ramu
basins, parts of the Gulf Province and most of the Bird's Head) or to
Island Melanesia? What stories do other disciplines tell about human
populations and cultures in New Guinea and Island Melanesia before the
arrival of Austronesian speakers in the 4th millenium BP?

Conference location and abstracts
All sessions will be held in the Main Lecture Theatre, HC Coombs Building,
Australian National University. All sessions at which papers are presented
will be open to public attendance, with no registration fee. The conference
is sponsored by the Division of Society & Environment, RSPAS. For further
information contact Andrew Pawley, Dept. of Linguistics, RSPAS, ANU,
Canberra ACT 0200. email: apawley@coombs.anu.edu.au; ph. 2649-0028 or
6249-2279.

A complete set of abstracts, listed alphabetically by author name can be found
at http://rspas.anu.edu.au/linguistics/PapuanPasts/abstracts.html

A further listing of the papers according to academic discipline can be found
at http://rspas.anu.edu.au/linguistics/PapuanPasts/discipline.html

TIMETABLE

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27
8.30-9.00
Welcome and housekeeping matters

9.00-9.45
Opening address
Jack Golson Who were the Papuans?

9.45-10.30
Malcolm Ross Pronouns as markers of genetic stocks in non-Austronesian
languages of New Guinea and Island Melanesia and Eastern Indonesia

10.30-11.00 Morning Tea

11.00-11.45
Andrew Pawley: The Trans New Guinea phylum: Recent research and its
implications

11.45-12.30
Jonathan Friedlander. F. Gentz, E Kaestle, G. Koki, C.S. Mgone & M.
Merriweather mtDNA haplogroup distributions in New Guinea and Island
Melanesia

12.30-2.00 Lunch

2.00-2.45
Nerida Harley, Robert Attenborough, Kuldeep Bhatia, Michael Alpers & Simon
Easteal Genetic diversity among the Papuan speakers of New Guinea

2.45-3.30
Simon Easteal, Belinda Whittle, Andrea Mettenmeyer, Robert Attenborough,
Kuldeep Bhatia & Michael Alpers Mitochondrial genome diversity among
Papuan-speaking people on the island of New Guinea

3.30-4.00 Afternoon Tea

4.00-4.45
Kuldeep Bhatia HLA: the non-Austronesian distribution

4.45-5.30
Rosalind Harding Time scales for genetic diversity in Melanesia: a look at
some evidence for estimates of 100,000 years or more

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
9.00-9.45
Nicola van Dijk Comparison of Australian and Papuan skeletal material

9.45-10.30
Geoff Hope & Simon Haberle The history of the human landscapes of New Guinea

10.30-11.00 Morning Tea

11.00-11.45
Ken Aplin Faunal sequences, environmental change and faunal exploitation
in prehistoric New Guinea: chasing shadows of the TNG Phylum?

11.45-12.30
Susan Bulmer Archaeology as Prehistory - A new look at the archaeological
evidence for the origins of agriculture in the New Guinea Highlands

12.30-2.00 Lunch

2.00-2.45
Tim Denham Disjuncture or Emergence? Implications of the shift from
curvilinear to rectilinear cultivation practices in the Wahgi Valley,
Western Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea

2.45-3.30
Ben Evans & Mary-Jane Mountain Change in Highland settlement and activity
in the early Holocene - Nombe and beyond

3.30-4.00 Afternoon Tea

4.00-4.45
Bert Voorhoeve Linguistic relationships and population movements in south
and southwestern New Guinea.

4.45-5.30
Ger Reesink: Roots and development of West Papuan languages: Papuan
elements in West Papuan languages

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29
9.00-9.45
Terry Hays Vernacular names for staple foods in Irian Jaya: Implications
for agricultural prehistory

9.45-10.30
Paul Roscoe Foraging, Domestication, and Papuan Pasts (or, Modern hunter
and gatherer/agriculture distributions and parameters in New Guinea, and
what these might tell us about the past)

10.30-11.00 Morning Tea

11.00-11.45
Chris Ballard The idea of the garden: Social contexts for agricultural
diffusion in the New Guinea Highlands

11.45-12.30
John Burton Conquest and colonisation instead of social innovation and
agricultural involution: the expansion of Kapau into the Upper Watut from
1870

12.30-2.00 Lunch
2.00-2.45
Jim Specht 'X' marks the spot: language, genes and material culture in the
Bismarck Archipelago

2.45-3.30
Chris Gosden Possible links between the archaeological evidence and
linguistic prehistory in the Bismark Archipelago

3.30-4.00 Afternoon Tea

4.00-4.45
John Chappell Contrasting geographical changes of northern and southern
lowlands of New Guinea: the Sepik-Ramu and the Fly-Digul regions

4.45-5.30
Bill Foley Linguistic prehistory in the Sepik-Ramu Basin

4.45-5.30
Mark Donohue & Melissa Crowther Meeting in the middle: Interaction in
central-north New Guinea

THURS DAY, NOVEMBER 30
9.00-9.45
Pamela Swadling & Robin Hide Did an agricultural fence in the Sepik-Ramu
keep Trans New Guinea speakers out?

9.45-10.30
Bryant Allen Environmental influences on the present-day distribution of
languages and
cultures north of the Sepik River

10.30-11.00 Morning Tea

11.00-11.45
Barry Craig What can material culture studies in Papua New Guinea tell us
about the
past?

11.45-12.30
Panel commentary and general discussion

12.30-2.00 Lunch

2.00-300
Publication plans, wrapping up

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: Three members of Papua Task Force shot dead by police
Date: 11/5/00 7:58:42 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com

REceived from Joyo Indonesian News

Jakarta Post
Sunday, November 5, 2000

[Herewith the official version of the incident in Merauke which is greatly
at variance with the report we have just posted from ELS-HAM. TAPOL]

Three members of Papua Task Force shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the Papua Task Force were shot dead and six
others wounded in a clash with police in Merauke on Saturday afternoon.

The incident broke out when police tried to prevent 25 members of the task
force from escaping from the detention house of the Merauke Police Precinct,
chief of the operations command of Irian Jaya Police, the Senior
Superintendent Koesnadi, told Antara Saturday.

The 25 people were arrested Friday night for alleged involvement in a riot at
Ampera market that night. They ignored police warning shots, prompting the
police to shoot them, said Koesnadi.

Three of the suspects were killed and six others were wounded in the
incident. A policeman was also wounded after a task force member slashed him
with a machete, said Koesnadi.

The incident has created tension in the city. Merauke officials called a
hasty meeting Saturday night to prevent more clashes between the Papua Task
Force and local policemen, Antara said.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Three killed in jailbreak attempt
Date: 11/5/00 7:44:05 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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The Jakarta Post.com
National News
November 06, 2000
Three killed in jailbreak attempt

JAKARTA (JP): Tension has plagued the outlying Irian Jaya town of
Merauke after police shot dead three members of the
pro-independence civilian guards while they were escaping police
detention on Saturday.

Chief of Irian Jaya Police's operational and control affairs Sr.
Supt. Kusnadi told The Jakarta Post by phone from the provincial
capital of Jayapura on Sunday 18 other pro-independence activists
suffered gunshot wounds in the jailbreak.

"They tried to break out of detention and ignored police's warning
shots.Some of them also attacked the officers in the process,"
Kusnadi said.

One officer had a slash wound and was flown to Marthen Indey Army
Hospital in Jayapura. The wounded inmates were admitted to Merauke
Hospital.

Kusnadi said the civilian guards, locally called Satgas Papua, were
apprehended on Friday evening for allegedly inciting a rampage at
Ampera Market. Several kiosks were burned in the incident, which
reportedly was sparked by an argument over a girl between one of
the pro-independence activists and a police officer.

As of Sunday afternoon the situation in Merauke, some 750
kilometers south of Jayapura, reportedly remained tense. Police
were seen heavily guarding most government buildings such as state
electricity company PLN and telecommunication company PT Telkom,
offices, banks, market and business centers.

"The situation is gradually calming down but security personnel are
put on alert in case of further disturbance," Kusnadi said.

Merauke regent Benyamin Simatupang told Antara on Sunday the three
killed would be buried later in the day at the Yobar public
cemetery in Merauke Kota district.

He said a meeting between the local government officials and Papuan
Presidium Council (PDP) and Satgas Papua (Papuan taskforce) members
on Saturday night resulted in a joint agreement that nobody could
evade legal measures if they violated the law.

People in the province, also known as Papua, have made increasing
calls for independence in recent years, and in a congress held by
the Papua Council in June this year they declared independence for
their homeland.

At least 30 people, mostly migrants, were killed last month after
independence supporters ran amok in Wamena, some 290 kilometers
southwest of Jayapura, following the police's attempt to lower the
Morning Star separatist flags. (edt)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suratkabar.com
Indonesia Irian Jaya, Aceh Conflicts Leave Eight Dead
05/11/2000 (13:00)

JAKARTA (SuratkabarCom) - Fighting between security forces and
separatists in two troubled provinces at opposite ends of
Indonesia's vast archipelago left at least eight people dead
Saturday, police said.

In the remote Irian Jaya province, local police chief Col. Kusnadi
said fighting broke out Saturday after 25 insurgents tried to
escape from jail in the town of Merauke, about 4,000 kilometers
(2,500 miles) northeast of Jakarta.

He said security forces opened fire at the rebels, killing three
and wounding six. One police officer was stabbed and injured.

Local human rights activist John Rumbiak said that after the
shooting pro-independence residents from surrounding villagers
started to pour into the town, armed with bows and arrows and
spears.

He said hundreds of migrants from other Indonesian islands, who
have been the target of violence by independence activists in the
past, were fleeing their homes and sheltering at the local police
station.

Rumbiak said that after the clash, police pulled down two
separatist flags that had been flying in the town.

Last month, as many as 40 people, mostly migrants, were killed in a
clash after police forcibly lowered the independence flag in the
nearby town of Wamena.

Tension has increased recently in the province, which covers the
western half of New Guinea island and is also known as West Papua,
after the government ordered the lowering of independence flags
across the region.

The province has been wracked by separatist violence since
Indonesia annexed it in 1963 after generations of Dutch colonial
rule.

Meanwhile in Indonesia's westernmost Aceh province, security forces
shot five rebels to death on Saturday, said local police spokesman
Col. Kusbini Imbar.

He said the fighting started after the guerrilla fighters tried to
ambush a joint police and army patrol in the east of the province.

The latest deaths bring to at least 207 the number of people killed
in the region since a truce between separatists and Indonesia's
government came into effect on June 2.

Rebels belonging to the Free Aceh Movement have been fighting for
independence for their oil- and gas-rich homeland for about 25
years, leaving at least 5,500 people have been killed in the past
decade.
-- (AP)

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Religions being trivialized
Date: 11/5/00 7:45:46 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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The Jakarta Post.com
Headline News
November 06, 2000
Religions being trivialized

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid expressed his deep
concern over the current conflict between religions, which he said
represented a setback of religious life of people in the country.

Abdurrahman said religions in the country was undergoing
trivialization, a process in which religion is reduced into
superficial elements and slogans, especially among the Muslim
people.

"Religion has been seen as formality only by certain sides, taken
as slogans and put it in an inhumane field, destroying our human
instinct," he said in the closing ceremony of the five-day
Indonesian Catholic Church's Grand Synod, at the Senayan indoor
tennis court stadium here on Sunday.

Attending the ceremony, which simultaneously marked the official
opening of the Indonesian Bishops Conference's meeting, were
bishops, clergymen and thousands of Catholic adherents from Jakarta
and its outskirts.

The President said the religious trivialization has extended to a
horizontal conflict between the modernist and the traditionalist.

"In the past, we were facing a horizontal conflict between the
haves and the have nots, but now, we are apparently facing one
between the (Muslim) modernist, say, Muhammadiyah, and the
traditionalist, Nahdlatul Ulama," he said.

He said this situation came to him as a surprise because under
democracy, the nation should no longer use physical force and
instead use rational and arguments in a continuous dialog.

The president did not say this, but it was clear that he was
referring to the row between him and his critic Amien Rais, former
chairman of Muhammadiyah. Amien recently urged the president to
step down because he was considered unable to cope with major
problems.

Gus Dur said the ongoing conflict between the two Muslim
organizations must be managed, despite its complicated causes,
"because it has led to a tense situation we are entering at
present."

According to him, Muhammadiyah and Nahdlatul Ulama were a bigger
part of the nation so that the conflict between the two
organizations has effected the national life.

He admitted it's not easy for him to cope with the conflict but
said he would be able to do it.

The president said further that amid the democracy era, all
religious communities that constitute a national brotherhood must
respect the difference of opinion.

"The difference of opinion in the heterogeneous society should be
accepted as normal as it is in a democratic realm," he said, adding
that reversely, it was not normal for religion adherents from one
religion to another religion.

Peace
Meanwhile, Julius Cardinal Darmaatmadja, archbishop of the Jakarta
diocese, called on the government and other sides in the society to
work hard to create peace and better the people's social welfare.

"Along with Catholic adherents at the grassroots level, we want the
president and other national leaders to create a certainty of peace
and of a social welfare for all the people," he said in his address
to the meeting.

He said the certainty of a peaceful condition could be created if
personal conflicts in the political elite and among groups in the
society are solved, the law is upheld, the national brotherhood was
promoted and all components take an active role to fight for social
justice.

"We have been tired of numerous prolonged conflicts that have yet
to be managed well, of corruption cases that has yet to be
investigated thoroughly and of the low awareness of the law," he
said.

He said the Catholic community wishes an established fraternity
that accepts the religion and ethnic pluralism, fights for social
justice for all and gives a special attention to isolated ethnic
groups.

"We also appeal to the government and security authorities to solve
bloody conflicts in Maluku, Kalimantan, Aceh, Papua and other
regions immediately. The government should give a wider space for
the people's participation in solving their own conflicts," he
said. (rms)

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Indo ranks #1 in world - Hepatitis-B
Date: 11/5/00 7:45:17 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Indonesian Observer
Monday, November 06 - 2000
Indonesia ranks number one in the world for hepatitis-B: Health
Minister

JAKARTA (IO) =97 Indonesia not only ranks among the most corrupt
countries on the planet, it also has a new distinction =97 it=92s got
the highest incidence of hepatitis-B in the world.

Health Minister Achmad Sujudi on Saturday said 15 million of
Indonesia=92s 210 million people have the potentially fatal disease.
That=92s more than 7% of the population.

=93We know that the disease is serious in Indonesia, and there are
sufferers from [the nation=92s westernmost point of] Aceh to [the
easternmost point] Merauke,=94 he told the press at his office in
Kuningan, South Jakarta.

=93In order to reduce the high number of patients, the ministry plans
to produce more vaccines at all state-owned pharmaceutical
companies,=94 he said.

Hepatitis-B is caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The US
National Center for Infectious Diseases says it can cause lifelong
infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver
failure, and death.

The disease can be prevented by means of a vaccine.

Sujudi said sufferers of hepatitis-B become more susceptible to
other diseases. =93There are many sufferers here, but most of them
are in eastern Indonesia, especially in Irian Jaya, Maluku and East
Nusa Tenggara.=94

Thamrin Poeloeng, president director of state-owned pharmaceutical
company PT Biofarma, told the Observer that his firm has produced
10 million hepatitis-B vaccines this year.

=93In rural areas where doctors can=92t be found and there are no
hospitals, we give vaccine kits to locals free of charge. Each kit
and injection needle can be used only once, and after that must be
thrown away. In cities, the kits can be purchased at any
pharmacies,=94 he said.

Due to increasing electricity rates and the rising price of
imported raw materials, state-owned pharmaceutical companies plan
to raise the price of medicines by up to 40%. That means the battle
to overcome diseases such as hepatitis-B has a long way to go.

The Center for Infectious Diseases lists clinical features of
hepatitis-B as jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, loss of appetite,
intermittent nausea, and vomiting.

It can be transmitted by blood through sexual contact and from
pregnant mothers to their offspring.

Risk groups include intravenous drug users, sexually active
heterosexuals, men who have sex with men, children in
disease-endemic areas and impoverished people.

The disease can be contracted by sexual or =93household=94 contact with
infected persons.

Others at risk include health care workers, hemodialysis patients
and small child prostitutes.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: Two Papuans shot dead, many wounded in Merauke, West Papua
Date: 11/5/00 7:58:35 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com

LEMBAGA STUDI DAN ADVOKASI HAK ASASI MANUSIA (ELS-HAM)
Institute for Human Rigths Study And Advocacy
Jln. ISTP Padang Bulan-Jayapura, Papua Barat
Tlp/Fax. +62-967-581600/581520 email : elsham_irja@jayapura.wasantara.net.id

Family row leads to Brimob action: Two shot dead, 15 wounded
(Merauke, 4 November 2000)
Summary only by TAPOL

On Saturday, 4 November, Brimob troops in Merauke shot dead two Papuans, eight
were seriously wounded and seven were lightly wounded.

The incident started with a row between two families on Friday evening which
led to some fighting between them. When two of those involved in the argument
returned home, relatives went to the home of the other family and broke down
the door. One of the disputants suggested that they all go to Satgas Posko 37
to resolve the dispute on the next day.

On their way back home, two brothers involved in the argument met four Brimob
members, one of whom was not in uniform. This man grabbed one of the brothers
by the arm but he managed to shake himself free; however the Brimob fell, not
because he had been beaten but because he lost his balance and then rushed
to a
nearby Brimob command post. Meanwhile a man and his wife who happened to walk
past the place where this had happened were pushed and shoved by the Brimob
men.

As this was happening, a crowd gather and started to express their disapproval
with what the police officers were doing. Other members of Brimob appeared and
started shooting into the air to disperse the crowd. After this, the situation
returned to 'normal'.

On Saturday, the two feuding families met at Satgas Papua Posko 37 to resolve
their dispute, but for reasons that are unclear, the families started fighting
again and one person was cut in the arm. While this was going on, Brimob
troops
arrived at the Posko and started shooting. As a result everyone left the
Posko.
Then, the troops pulled down the Morning Star flag and tore it up and moved on
to another nearby Posko where they opened fire, raided the Posko and pulled
down the flag. There were no casualties in these incidents.

The troops then moved on to another Posko and started shooting; several people
who were just sitting there who offered no resistance. This is where the
casualties fell as the Brimob members fire their weapons indiscriminately. One
witness, TH, said that he saw the Brimob firing their weapons from inside the
Transito complex (the report does not explain what this complex is).

When ELS-HAM made inquiries with the police, they were first told that the
incident had occurred as a result of the family feud and claimed that a Satgas
member started interfering and threatened to attack the troops with arrows.
But
at this point, the person at police HQ stopped speaking and said the inquiries
should be made at another police office and gave a phone number. When ELS-HAM
phoned the number given, they were told that two persons had indeed been shot
dead but the police officer claimed that this had happened because Satgas
members had beaten up school-children. The police also said that some local
inhabitants were now taking refuge at the police command. When the ELS-HAM
contact asked where they should phone for further confirmation of this
information, the person hung up on him.

Medical staff at the Merauke General Hospital confirmed that two people had
been shot dead, eight seriously wounded and seven lightly wounded. But they
denied that any school children been beaten up.

Merauke is now very tense and people are afraid to leave their homes, while
security forces are patrolling the streets and carrying out rigorous checks on
everyone. One local contact said it was as if there was a war on. Non-Papuan
settlers are said to be arming themselves with sharp weapons while Papuans are
also said to be preparing themselves for any eventuality.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

===========================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Australia warns Jakarta over Papuans' rights
Date: 11/5/00 7:30:07 PM Central Standard Time
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Sydney Morning Herald
Monday, November 6, 2000
Australia warns Jakarta over Papuans' rights
By Michelle Grattan

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, warned Indonesia
yesterday that it would encourage the secessionist movement in West
Papua if it suppressed human rights.

Mr Downer strongly backed West Papua staying within Indonesia,
declaring that "the Balkanisation of Indonesia, if that were to
happen, would create enormous regional instability".

Mr Downer said a breakup of Indonesia would create "a lot of
unpredictable consequences". These would affect not just relations
between Indonesia and Australia but Indonesia's relations with some
other regional countries as well.

"I don't think we should allow ourselves to be goaded into an
equivocal position," Mr Downer said on Channel Ten. "The clear
position we have is that Irian Jaya should remain part of
Indonesia. The best way for Indonesia to handle that is across the
negotiating table and in an inclusive way with the Papuan people
and not through confrontation with the military.

"There has to be a commitment to an appropriate standard of human
rights, otherwise that'll only encourage the secessionist
movement.."

Last week Mr Downer declined to meet two West Papuan leaders but a
cross-party group of 10 Federal MPs set up "Parliamentarians for
West Papua".

The Opposition foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Laurie Brereton, met
the West Papuans. He was anxious to tell them that Labor's policy
did not challenge the sovereignty of Indonesia. This followed the
ACTU vice-president and ALP national president, Mr Greg Sword,
signing a memorandum of understanding with a West Papuan leader
urging a United Nations-sponsored referendum on its future. The
action embarrassed the ALP.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, said at the weekend the
Government's big overhaul of defence, which will see a hefty spendi
ng rise, reflected "the need for Australia to be able to respond to
the many contingencies that might arise in our immediate
neighbourhood".

Mr Howard told the NSW Liberal convention on Saturday that
Australia had been reminded not only by East Timor but also Fiji
and the Solomon Islands "that we do live in a less stable part of
the world than we might otherwise have thought".

The Defence White paper, released in December, would present "one
of the most carefully prepared and thorough-going assessments of
the defence and strategic environments in which Australia finds
itself". It would also contain "in a very consistent and credible
way that response that we propose to those circumstances".

Mr Howard said the Government set a "very high priority" on
maintaining a strong defence capability. "We do need as a nation to
spend more money on defence." It is believed the Cabinet's Security
Committee has approved a real rise of more than 4 per cent for next
financial year (about $500 million) and a 3 per cent real increase
annually for a decade after that.

"It is the first priority of government, and it is always the first
responsibility of any government, to ensure that the defence forces
are not only appropriate to deal with the great unlikelihood of a
direct assault upon Australia but also to make a contribution to
greater stability and a more secure strategic environment in the
area in which we live," Mr Howard said.

He said the Government would this week release the Peacock report
on consultations with the public on defence spending. These
consultations backed an increase.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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=======================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Saubeba: Portrait of a Successful Village in IrJa
Date: 11/4/00 9:22:20 PM Central Standard Time
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Indonesian Observer
Sunday, November 05 - 2000
Saubeba: Portrait of a Successful Village in I. Jaya

MANOKWARI =97 The village of Saubeba, located in Manokwari district,
reflects the government=92s success in implementing its development
program in Irian Jaya province.

Manokwari is situated in the eastern part of the so-called Bird=92s
Head area in Indonesia=92s easternmost province.

=93Saubeba has great potentials for growing crops for export such as
cacao,=94 assistant secretary of the local administration, Jack
Kapissa, said in Manokwari, Irian Jaya, recently.

Quoting Indonesian agricultural experts, Kapissa said the soil in
Saubeba is very fertile.

Inhabited by 58 families consisting of 215 people from the Arfak
tribe, the village has been successfully developed.

=93Its people have the will to attain progress so they have worked
hard to grow cacao,=94 Kapissa added.

He said cacao has become the main commodity of Manokwari since
researchers found that cacao trees grow very rapidly in almost all
areas of the village.

To eradicate pests, Saubeba farmers do not use pesticides but smoke
from bonfires, Kapissa said, adding that smoke exterminates such
pests as Helopeltis sp, Pseudodoniela sp, and Parabriosis sp as
well as molds (Phythoptora palmivora sp).

To the Arfak tribe, he noted, smoke is the safest =93pesticide=94.

Health and education in the small village, which is located in the
foot of the Arfak mountain, have received serious attention from
the local administration and concerned agencies which had jointly
built an integrated mother-child health care center, a family
planning center and an elementary school.

Saubeba has become a model village in Irian Jaya. Located in a
coastal area, it is a 35-minute drive from Manokwari.

Thanks to Cendrawasih University in Jayapura, capital of Irian
Jaya, the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) and the local
administration, Saubeba villagers enjoy clean water from a facility
that was built this year at a cost of Rp47 million.

=93With the new facility, the people do not have to use rainwater and
river water anymore,=94 Kapissa said.

=93The people do not have to worry again, especially during the dry
season because the facility can provide 77,760 liters of clean
water per day,=94 he added.

Before the clean water facility was built, Saubeba villagers had to
walk 500 meters to find water.

=93Saubeba villagers have learned much and do not want to return to
their old condition anymore,=94 Kapissa said.

Irian Jaya is rich in mineral resources but has remained
underdeveloped.
-- Antara

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Three members of Papua Task Force shot dead
Date: 11/4/00 9:22:19 PM Central Standard Time
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The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
November 05, 2000
Three members of Papua Task Force shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Three members of the Papua Task Force were shot dead
and six others wounded in a clash with police in Merauke on
Saturday afternoon.

The incident broke out when police tried to prevent 25 members of
the task force from escaping from the detention house of the
Merauke Police Precinct, chief of the operations command of Irian
Jaya Police, the Senior Superintendent Koesnadi, told Antara
Saturday.

The 25 people were arrested Friday night for allegedinvolvement in
a riot at Ampera market that night. They ignored police warning
shots, prompting the police to shoot them, said Koesnadi.

Three of the suspects were killed and six others were wounded in
the incident. A policeman was also wounded after a task force
member slashed him with a machete, said Koesnadi.

The incident has created tension in the city. Merauke officials
called a hasty meeting Saturday night to prevent more clashes
between the Papua Task Force and local policemen, Antara said.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] New tribes discovered in Irian Jaya!
Date: 11/4/00 5:36:23 PM Central Standard Time
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Nov 4, 2000:

By satellite phone from an almost inaccessible spot in the jungle, a
member of a missionary survey team today reported contact with eight
tribes conveniently assembled for an annual festival. THREE TRIBAL
LANGUAGES NEVER BEFORE KNOWN were discovered there! Monday a helicopter
will go to pick up the team and make some additional aerial surveys using
information obtained in the last few days.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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=============================================================================

Subj: Members of Congress write to Albright on /Papua and Aceh
Date: 11/3/00 5:20:57 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org

October 30, 2000
> >
> >Dr. Madeleine Albright
> >Secretary of State
> >U.S. Department of State
> >Washington, DC 20520
> >
> >
> >Dear Madame Secretary,
> >
> >We are writing to express our deep concern over Indonesian military (TNI)
> >and police violence now devastating Aceh and West Papua (Irian Jaya). To
> >prevent more bloodshed by attacking the roots of this violence, it is
> >imperative that the U.S. refrain from all re-engagement with the Indonesian
> >military at this time. Because of the escalating spiral of human rights
> >abuses in these regions, we are convinced that additional action is now
> >required.
> >
> >In just one incident this month, more than 30 Papuans were killed,
> >including 11 gunned down by police and military forces. Hundreds were
> >arrested, some beaten and tortured, after armed forces tried to prevent the
> >raising of the "Morning Star" independence flag in West Papua. Local
> >citizens rioted in response to the shootings. Since then, Indonesian
> >President Wahid has again banned the independence flag entirely.
> >
> >At a June people's congress, 2,700 Papuan citizens rejected Indonesian
> >rule. On December 1, 2000 the pro-independence body the Papuan Presidium
> >Council will report back on their "struggle for world recognition of the
> >sovereignty of the Papuan people." As that day approaches we fear even
> >worse violence. In the last several weeks alone the government of
> >Indonesia has quietly deployed hundreds of additional troops to the
> >province. The United States should hold the government of Indonesia
> >responsible for promoting human rights and providing adequate security and
> >safety for the people of Papua.
> >
> >Military and paramilitary operations against civilians in Aceh are also on
> >the rise, despite a cease-fire recently extended through the "Humanitarian
> >Pause" negotiations between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and TNI. Jafar
> >Siddiq Hamzah, a human rights lawyer and founder of the International Forum
> >for Aceh, testified before Congress on several occasions about human rights
> >violations committed by the Indonesian military in Aceh. Jafar was
> >abducted on August 5 from Medan, Northern Sumatra, after receiving
> >anonymous death threats. One month later his body was found lying in a
> >ravine with four other corpses, so badly mutilated they were identifiable
> >only by autopsy. Jafar's family and friends strongly suspect Indonesian
> >military involvement in his murder, based on the circumstances of his
> >abduction and the nature of his torture.
> >
> >If such an atrocity can be perpetrated against someone of Jafar's
> >international visibility, anyone is a potential target of death squads.
> >Indeed, cases of harassment and intimidation against local Acehnese human
> >rights and humanitarian workers have only increased since Jafar's murder.
> >Many International workers have fled, leaving few to witness or prevent
> >further military and militia attacks, and no one to provide
> >relief. Refugees receive little food and medicine, and are provided with
> >inadequate shelter.
> >
> > It is the responsibility of the Indonesian government to protect
> >human rights and provide safety and security throughout Indonesia,
> >including Aceh and West Papua. In this regard, immediate and effective
> >actions need to be taken by the government of Indonesia to halt human
> >rights abuses by members of the Indonesian security forces. Those
> >responsible for human rights violations should be brought to
> >justice. Independent Indonesian and international human rights
> >investigators and monitors should be allowed to provide genuine oversight
> >and monitoring without fear of intimidation and harm.
> >
> >The U.S. administration should work with the UN and other governments to
> >increase international pressure on Jakarta to insist that these actions be
> >taken. We specifically request that you join calls for a UNHRC Special
> >Reporteur for Aceh. We ask that an expansion of USAID funding be made
> >available for humanitarian assistance, monitoring by international
> >non-governmental organizations and Acehnese human rights organizations. We
> >believe it is essential that the U.S. offer financial as well as political
> >support to the Humanitarian Pause effort. Finally, we would welcome
> >continued communication on ways in which human rights activists in Aceh,
> >especially those who have visited the U.S. Congress and the State
> >Department, can be protected from retaliatory violence.
> >
> >Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to hearing
> >from you.
> >
> >Sincerely,
> >
> >
> >Rep. Joseph Crowley
> >Rep. Cynthia McKinney
> >Rep. Eni Faleomavaega
> >Rep. Anthony Weiner
> >Rep. Michael Capuano
> >Rep. Dennis Kucinich
> >Rep. Mark Udall
> >Rep. Fortney Pete Stark
> >Rep. Robert Weygand
> >
> >
> >___________________________________________________________
> >T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
> >Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics
> >
>TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
>111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
>tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
>tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol
>
>___________________________________________________________
>T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
>Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

end

etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan
John M. Miller Internet: john@etan.org
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668 Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info@etan.org to find out how to learn
more about East Timor on the Internet
etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan

___________________________________________________________
T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16
Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Events to come in WePa
Date: 11/3/00 5:32:01 PM Central Standard Time
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sent by and Reply-To: "ERABARU"

Dear all,

I am writing to ou informatin various events that may occur in the =
coming months, related to West Papua politics.

I. December Week I. Probably war will break up when the Papuans declare =
their indepedendence to the international community. Or maybe there will =
be another Papua Congress to gather all members of Papua Panel to =
discuss the future of West Papua.

II. November 2000. We received an info from our reliable source that =
there will be an OPM/TPN Congress in this month in Vanimo PNG to =
restructure the leadership of OPM and to politically and internationally =
launch a campaign for West Papua indepedence, The Commander in Chief =
General TPN PB Mathias Wenda will chair this meeting.

III. In November 9 onwards, there may be some incidents when the =
Indoensian police are pulling down the Papuan's Morning Star Flag by =
force. The deadline was on 19 October, but postponed until November 1, =
and now until November 9. We do not know what might happen afterwards.

IV. There will be a huge number of refugrees from West Papua to Papua =
New Guinea in the coming months if the Indonesian police start to pull =
down the Morning Star Flag by force. All civilians in West Papua, mainly =
POrt Numbay and Maroke regions will be evacuated to Vanimo and Kiunga =
PNG.

V. There is also a possibility that a JIHAD WAR will begin in West =
Papua. Our reliable sources confirmed that there have been some secret =
meetings among the Moslems from different parts of Indonesia. The =
Indonesian police have equiped them with military tactics and weapons, =
i.e., granades, arms and training.

VI. Another possibility is that a massive will erupt throughout West =
Papua in reaction to the Indonesia's approach without Dialogue or by =
force. Major cities of war maybe Timika, Port Numbay or Jayapura, Sorong =
and also Maroke.

That is all for now.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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=============================================================================

Subj: The Economist: Separatism in Irian Jaya
Date: 11/3/00 5:59:15 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com

REceived from Joyo Indonesian News

The Economist
November 4, 2000

Separatism in Irian Jaya

Flying the flag

Photo: Flag-hunters on patrol

JAYAPURA

The separatists in Irian Jaya may be a long way from gaining independence
from Indonesia, but they do have a flag, called the Morning Star. Each
evening when, in awed silence, it is lowered and put away for the night in
Jayapura, the main town, it is saluted by black-clad separatist militiamen
who call themselves the Papuan Task Force.

What the separatists are doing, in Jayapura and across the Indonesian half of
the island of Papua, is formally illegal. Under Indonesian law, only the
national flag, known as the Red and White, can fly over Indonesia's sovereign
territory. But President Abdurrahman Wahid, in a pacifying gesture to the
separatists, said the Morning Star could fly, as long as the Red and White
flew beside it. Then he changed his mind.

The separatists took no notice. In Jayapura the Morning Star continues to be
tolerated. But in the hill town of Wamena on October 6th, police tried to
pull down the flag from its pole in the central market. In the brutal
fighting that followed, more than 30 people died. Wamena is one of the places
in Irian Jaya where there is enmity between native Papuans and migrants
resettled in the province by the Indonesian government from overcrowded Java.

In the fighting over the flag, naked Papuans armed with bows and arrows and
spears fought the police, who used firearms. The local police chief,
Superintendent Daniel Suripatty, claims that the flags have now been taken
down both in Wamena and the surrounding Baliem Valley. But it has been done
at a cost. The migrants are fleeing, after some were hacked to death in the
fighting. Schools are closed, Wamena's hospital is barely staffed. The Baliem
area is flooded with police and troop reinforcements.

The separatists say that the flags have only been hidden and will fly again
when orders are received from their representative body, the Papuan Presidium
Council. Thaha Alhamid, the secretary-general, says the separatists want to
achieve independence only through negotiated, peaceful means and without
scaring away the hundreds of thousands of migrants.

The migrants themselves are confused. They came to Irian Jaya seeking a
better life, and now find themselves in a divided land. Some say they
sympathise with the Papuan cause, and feel the Papuans have had a raw deal.
But they also complain of demands for money from Papuans, who throw rocks at
their cars. "I have been here since 1982. It has never been as bad as this,"
said one car driver. The migrant problem has become worse with the arrival of
thousands of refugees from Ambon, the scene of clashes between Muslims and
Christians. These refugees hoped they would be safer in Irian Jaya, which
they regarded as a Christian land. Now they are not so sure.

The authorities in Irian Jaya are anxiously awaiting December 1st, regarded
by Papuans as their independence day. Much flag-flying and possible
accompanying trouble is expected. On December 1st 1961, the Morning Star
first flew in Jayapura. The Papuans, then under Dutch rule, expected
independence, but Indonesia swallowed up the territory in 1963. In 1969,
through a widely disputed 'referendum' among some 1,000 local chiefs, the
move was ratified.

Theys Eluay, appointed chairman by a Papuan Congress a few months ago, is
expected to report on December 1st what headway has been made towards
independence. Not much, it seems. Mr Eluay is a traditional leader of the
Sentani people from the Jayapura area. On ceremonial occasions he can count
on a guard of honour from the Papuan Task Force. But not everyone trusts him.
Mr Eluay took part in the 1969 referendum and subsequently served for years
as a provincial legislator for the Golkar party under Indonesia's former
president, Suharto.

In some areas Mr Eluay's writ barely runs. In the vast southern district of
Merauke, local separatist leaders say more than 1,000 Morning Stars are
flying. They are unlikely to come down because Mr Eluay says so. A separatist
leader, Januarius Wiwaron, says the villagers want to keep them flying. As so
often in the past the flag will be defended, to the death if necessary.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Law enforcement a key to avoid unrest: German MP
Date: 11/3/00 5:52:05 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Indonesian Observer
Saturday, November 04 - 2000
Law enforcement a key to avoid unrest: German MP

JAKARTA (IO) =97 House Speaker Akbar Tandjung yesterday met a
delegation of German parliamentarians to discusse the current
political and economic situation, including incessant conflicts in
regional areas, at the House of Representatives (DPR) here
yesterday.

Christian Schwarz-Schilling, head of the German delegation, said
numerous conflicts in Indonesia=92s remote areas have nothing to do
with religious issue.

=93I think we all agree it is originally not a religious conflict. It
is more the responsibility of leading people,=94 Schilling told the
Observer after the meeting.

He added that political education for residents in remote area to
uphold rule of law should be put as a top priority by the power
holders. =93It should become the highest priority,=94 he added.

Following the downfall of autocratic president Soeharto in May
1998, bloody conflicts as well as calls for separatism have grown
in several regional areas.

Many estimate the conflicts were provoked by supporters of the
former president. Others claim they are prompted by a delay in the
implementation of regional autonomy law.

The suspension in the implementation of autonomy law has promptly
caused a vacuum of applicable regulations. This has in turn
provoked local people to be anarchy. They do no longer trust in the
government and existing laws, analysts say.

Schilling said the adoption of a new law on human rights trial,
scheduled to take place on Monday, could become a turning point for
law enforcement in Indonesia.

The delegation of German parliamentarians has no plan to meet
President Abdurrahman Wahid due to the latter=92s busy schedules.

After meeting with Tandjung, Schilling and his fellow legislators
yesterday left for Singapore.

Schilling confirmed he and Tandjung discussed how how to deal with
violence in regional areas. However he did not specify details of
the talks.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Irian News (3 Articles)
Date: 11/3/00 5:52:03 PM Central Standard Time
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National News
Govt`s Intention To Embrace Papua Council Not Immediately
Acceptable, Says Eluay
Friday, November 03, 2000/12:46:44 AM
Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Nov 3 (ANTARA)

The government`s intention to embrace the Papua Council Presidium
as a partner will have to be discussed further with members of the
council because the two parties adhere to different principles
about Irian Jaya`s future status, a council spokesman said.

The objective of the Papua Council Presidium, established during
the Papua Congress 2000 last June, is to prepare the separation of
Irian Jaya from Indonesia, said Theys Eluay, the council`s
chairman, here Thursday.

Therefore, the government`s wish to accept the council as a partner
will need further consideration by all members of the council, he
added.

During a visit to the mineral-rich province recently, Coordinating
Minister for Social and Political Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
expressed the wish for the council to be a partner of the
government in the future.

"The independence that we wish for has been acknowledged by the
government, so it is impossible for us to be its partner," Eluay
said.

On the plan to lower the separatist Morning Star flag throughout
Irian Jaya, Eluay said it would be discussed at a meeting between
Papua Council Presidium and the local government on Nov 9.

The meeting would decide on when the separatist flag should be
lowered, Eluay said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
Opinion
November 3, 2000
Failure of a development plan

JAKARTA (JP): We have failed in the past three decades to correct
the existing uneven development. Instead, our national development
plan has, intentionally or otherwise, brought about wide gaps among
regions.

We have adopted national development programs which ignored the
fact that Indonesia is a unique archipelago -- pluralistic and rich
in local specifics -- facing multidimensional challenges.

We have long realized that we have been tardy in developing Irian
Jaya. Yet we remain inactive, motionless and trapped in a cultural
impasse. We remain incapable of being more creative in handling the
developmental challenges to accommodate the local regional demands.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has committed an irreversible mistake
by agreeing that Irian Jaya be renamed Papua without the House of
Representatives' approval, ignoring the political and legal
implications of the move. Senior diplomats including Sumaryo
Suryokusumo have argued that changing the name was a big mistake.
West Irian is the name that is accepted by the international world,
according to the United Nations resolution.

I have also protested the President's decision but we need to try
to understand the goodwill, if misplaced, of Abdurrahman as a
novice in state affairs.

Former president Soeharto in 1993 had assigned then minister B.J.
Habibie to lead a national commission to accelerate eastern
Indonesia's development.

Had this project been completed, this mess would not have happened.
True, there was development in Irian Jaya, but only of routine
projects. In addition it was merely a development taking place in
Irian Jaya, not a development from the people, by the people and
for the people of Irian Jaya.

There were no participation or emancipation for the Irianese in the
developments. They were national development objects but the local
people did not become the subjects of the development.

President Abdurrahman set up the office of state minister in charge
of the acceleration of developments in east Indonesia.

Will Junior Minister for the Acceleration for the Development of
Eastern Indonesia, Manuel Kaisiepo, be able to achieve this goal
and establish models of development that involves the participation
and emancipation of, in particular, the Irianese?

The signs of neglect abound. Ten percent of (mining giant) Freeport
Indonesia's shares was easily granted to leading businessman
Aburizal Bakrie -- no trace of discomfort on his part when so
easily acquiescing them. It was reported later that the shares were
transferred to another businessman, Bob Hasan.

These 10 percent shares, or more if possible, should have been
owned by the Irian Jaya regional administration.

But Irianese have merely become spectators of the developments.
They have been sidelined. But our brethren in the eastern part of
Indonesia should know that most of us in the western part of the
archipelago have never agreed to the injustices occurring in Irian
Jaya or elsewhere. The pain of the Irianese, the East Timorese and
the Maluku people, is also ours.

Police have declared a state of red alert, following the recent
unrest in Wamena which claimed dozens of lives. Thousands of people
have been displaced and this is extremely sorrowful and
heartrending.

The incident followed the forceful hauling down of the Morning Star
(Bintang Kejora) flags by police troops, as instructed by National
Police chief.

A directive on how to carry out this instruction should have been
issued to prevent such incidents from taking place.

Perhaps President Abdurrahman should issue guidelines to anticipate
the consequences of the existing national policy on prohibiting the
hoisting oft he Morning Star flag (or the Free Aceh Movement flag
of Aceh).

The Morning Star flag will continue to fly in Irian Jaya unless
there is real development -- one that welcomes local participation
and emancipation. The Morning Star flag is the West Papuan's
identity, a personification and expression of the customs and
culture of their ancestors; it is their heartbeat.

The flag is at the same time a strong protest against arbitrary
actions, injustice, and sociopolitical and sociocultural
insubordination.

The problem is, where should the Morning Star flag be placed or
positioned in the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia which
has its own independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity?

The Morning Star flag should be allowed to fly under the protection
of the national Red and White flag. It must not be placed on equal
heights on the mast or be of the same size.

It must be smaller than the Red and White and it must be positioned
under the Red and White or on the left side of it, especially in
local and customary ceremonies.

The flags of states or provinces in other countries also fly under
such subordination, though this is not known as yet in Indonesia.

However, if this flag policy were applied to Irian Jaya
exclusively, it would discriminate against other provinces. So
there should first be a national legislation that is enforced
throughout the country stipulating that provincial flags shall fly
under the protection of the Red and White.

Similarly it may be identified, determined and agreed upon that
provincial flags exist as a reflection of the personality and
identity of the provinces. The flags of all provinces, like
contingent flags, must be seen as "components" of the Red and
White.

Take the logo of the Jakarta administration for example; it used to
grace the left and right front doors of Jakarta's official cars.
Why not hoist flags showing the logos in local offices, positioning
them under or on the left-hand side of the Red and White?

This move may alleviate fears of separatism while recognizing the
customs, culture and identity of the societies in the provinces
concerned.
-- The writer is chairman of a mass organization called
SOKSI-Reformasi and leader of the National Reform Movement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
November 04, 2000
Solution to Papua issue still far away: Bishop

CARINGIN, Bogor, West Java (JP): A comprehensive solution to the
Irian Jaya problem is still far way as both the government and the
pro-independence Papua Council Presidium (PDP) refuse to budge from
their respective positions, Jayapura Bishop Mgr. Leo Laba Ladjar
OFM said.

Leo criticized the government for not doing enough to break the
deadlock while support for the separatist resistance seems to be
growing.

"Following the appointment of Gen. Surojo Bimantoro as National
Police chief, the security authorities have taken a repressive
stance in quelling activities aimed at separating the province from
the Indonesian unitary state while the local people are of the
opinion that their land is being occupied and they are facing a
colonial administration that must be driven away," he told The
Jakarta Post here on Thursday.

Leo, an influential spiritual figure in the province, regretted the
use of force in the lowering of the Morning Star separatist flags
that led to the violent riot in the hinterland town of Wamena,
saying it inflicted an unforgivable wound in the hearts of the
indigenous population.

He added that an independent fact-finding team set up by the Papuan
Religious Leaders Council, which he himself chairs, was still
investigating the incident.

The bishop conceded that the Morning Star flag had been widely
accepted by the locals as a symbol of the province's independence.

That was why the people in Wamena were angered when their flags
were torn and dumped as trash, he said.

"Following the weeklong bloody riot in Wamena, the situation in the
province is still tense, the government has reinforced the presence
of military and police personnel in urban and rural areas but the
Free Papua separatist movement has won the hearts of the majority
of the Irianese people," he said.

Leo said despite the restored security and order in the town, the
incident has sowed a deep hatred for the government, with most
Irianese no longer believing in the government's good will in
seeking a comprehensive solution to the problem.

"Up to now, the relationship between the indigenous people and
migrants are not as friendly as it was in the past. Security
authorities, especially the reinforced Mobile Brigade, have gone
ahead with their repressive approach, and rebels with the
cooperation of their supporters have accelerated their resistance.

"Under such a tense situation where people are suspicious of one
another, minor problems can trigger major violence similar to the
Wamena incident," he said.

Leo warned the government and security authorities of a possible
escalation of separatist activities.

He said despite the reinforced security, the situation could be
dangerous if the separatist movement gains sufficient supply of
weapons from its overseas supporters. He added that rebels living
in the deep forest also controlled strategic areas.

"And, if physical confrontation between the government and the
rebels continues, no peaceful solution can be reached," he said.

Asked on a role that can be played by religious leaders in
mediating the problem in the predominantly Christian province, Leo
said the churches had taken a neutral position.

"We are ready to do so... but, for which side?. Of course, the
Catholic church has to take the people's side for the sake of
humanity and faith, not politics," he said.

He said it would be better for the government to commence dialogs
with all sides, while accelerating development in all fields, to
gradually regain the people's confidence.

"With the strong influence of the Church, the indigenous people
will gradually gain more confidence in the Indonesian state and
forget the issue of independence.

"But the government has to be serious in developing the province
and security authorities must abandon their repressive approach and
bring a new mission to protect the people to create a feeling of
security among them," he said. (rms)

=============================================================================

Subj: [wp] Jakarta delays pulling down separatist Irian flags
Date: 11/2/00 12:25:35 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: tapol@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org, slliem@xs4all.nl

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Jakarta delays pulling down separatist Irian flags

By Achmad Sukarsono

JAKARTA, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Indonesian police in Irian Jaya on Wednesday
postponed implementing an order to pull down all separatist flags in the
restive province until next week, to allow talks to be held with
pro-independence leaders.

President Abdurrahman Wahid last week ordered the lowering of all "Morning
Star" flags, and officials had said the deadline was November 1, sparking
fears of violence between security forces and the province's increasingly
vocal independence supporters.

But Irian Jaya police chief Silvanus Wenas said authorities wanted to avoid
conflict in removing the remaining flags, and would discuss the issue with
independence leaders grouped under an umbrella body called the Papua
Presidium on November 9.

"We will postpone the lowering of all the flags until November 9, when the
presidium can meet us with their full leadership," Wenas told Reuters by
telephone from Jayapura, capital of the remote and resource-rich province.

He said police had tried to meet with the presidium leadership on Wednesday,
but most were out of Jayapura.

Indonesian police have ignored earlier orders to pull down the remaining
flags in some parts of the sparsely-populated province to avoid a repeat of
clashes between police, separatists and settlers last month that killed
dozens of people.

Those clashes were triggered after police pulled down a separatist flag in
the highland town of Wamena on October 6.

Police said although they would eventually pull all of the flags down, they
wanted it done peacefully.

"We will do it in a persuasive manner," Wenas said.

Most separatist flags have been lowered over the vast province, but several
are still flying high in places sensitive to the pro-independence movement,
including one at the Jayapura's Arts Centre, police said.

Lying at the eastern end of the huge archipelago, Irian Jaya, also called
West Papua, is home to around two million people and is one of Indonesia's
main separatist hotspots.

Independence demands have been exacerbated by Indonesia's harshness in
putting down separatists and the funnelling of much of the province's wealth
into Jakarta's coffers.

Many indigenous people -- some of whom still practise Stone Age lifestyles --
also despise the presence of settlers who were shipped in under previous
government policies and dominate commerce and account for almost half the
population.

In a bid to ease tension, Wahid has promised greater autonomy for Irian and
said the territory would have more power to handle its affairs. But he has
refused to budge on independence.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

___________________________________________________________
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Subj: Separatists flags said still flying in Papua/Irian Jaya
Date: 11/2/00 2:46:12 PM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

also: Papua Presidium stalls on flag lowering until at least 9 November

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
November 1, 2000
Source: Radio New Zealand, Wellington, in English 0800 gmt 1 Nov 00

Indonesia: Separatists flags said still flying in Papua/Irian Jaya

A grass-roots organization in the Indonesian province of Papua Irian Jaya
says reports from the capital, Port Numbay Jayapura , say separatists have
again defied the authorities and refused to lower the banned Morning Star
flag. A
police order from Jakarta demanded that the flag of the separatist province be
lowered by today, in line with an earlier ultimatum which was allowed to lapse
because of fear of unrest. The security forces took down flags in Wamena in
the
Highlands nearly a month ago, triggering a backlash by the Papuans which left
dozens of people dead.

A spokesman for the Penis Gourd People Assembly Council in Wamena, (?Sen
Koroba), says no Morning Star flag can be seen in town any more as a large
number of troops have been deployed, coinciding with a visit to Wamena by
several Indonesian government ministers. He says his movement's call to crowd
around the separatists' office in Port Numbay has apparently stopped police
action to remove the flag there.

Koroba, in Wamena The Papua regular commander of the police, Mr Wenas,
just came down to meet them and said we need a peace deal now, we don't want
war. And he said we are not going to lower down the flag now.

----------------

BBC Worldwide Monitoring
November 1, 2000
Source: Antara news agency, Jakarta, in Indonesian 0000 gmt 11 Jan 00

Indonesia: Papua Presidium stalls on flag lowering until at least 9 November

Jayapura, 1st November: On 9th November, the Papua Presidium Council
(PDP) will meet Irian Jaya provincial government and security officials to
inform them of the PDP's plans for lowering Morning Star flags throughout the
province.

After separate meetings with the governor, Military Area commander and
Police chief in Jayapura on Wednesday 1st November morning, PDP chair Theys
Eluay said that the PDP would deliver their plans for lowering the flags on
9th November.

He said that the meeting would be postponed until 9th November as several
PDP members were still overseas. He said that he would be reporting to
President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) on the results of a PDP meeting on the
matter.

Theys called on the community, particularly transmigrants, not to be
overly
concerned because the Papuan Independence struggle would be conducted
peacefully.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=============================================================================

Subj: [wp] Security action in Wamena was 'correct' says Minister Susilo
Date: 11/2/00 1:13:24 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: tapol@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org, slliem@xs4all.nl, mallison@amnesty.org

Suara Pembaruan, 30 October 2000
Extract only

Minister Coordinator for Security and Political Affairs (retired general)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, speaking on a visit to Wamena, said that the
security forces' action on 6 October had been very good, correct, and
relatively fast. He hoped other places would learn from these experiences.

'For the sake of the constitution, our sovereignty and the territorial
integrity of the Indonesian Republic, we must face every duty with
resolution and firmness,' he said.

He said that incident in Wamena had come about as the result of the
dynamics in society, the social and psychological conditions of the
community. In the future, we must seek an approach and the correct way to
fulfil our duties towards the state. While upholding the constitution, we
must avoid violence and prevent loss of life and damage to property.

He said the government was currently drafting a new law [an apparent
reference to a law on 'special regional autonomy'] which would provide the
lawful basis for the administration in Irian Jaya which would be able to
avoid the fundamental problems that had be confronted up till now.

With regard to the Papua Presidium Council, he said that as a partner of
the government, it was hoped that it would give recommendations and explain
its aspirations to the government which would be incoporated into a new law
under preparation.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Regional Autonomy too soon (2 Articles)
Date: 11/2/00 4:14:13 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
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DetikWorld.com
President Wahid:
Regional Autonomy Too Soon, May Break Indonesia Up
Reporter: Shinta M Sinaga / PT & GB
detikworld =96 Jakarta

President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur as he is more commonly
known, has said that the intriduction of regional autonomy has the
potential to break-up the nation because many functions will not be
handed over to local leaders and officials. Once again, he urged
local leaders to remember their responsibilities to the country.

"I also see the trend to hand over functions to local leaders.
Remember that all functions can not be given to locals. If for the
head of the various regional levels it can. However, if other
positions are not needed, then it is possible we will break-up,"
explained Gus Dur at the Bina Graha Presidential Office Thursday
(2/11/2000). The statement was part of a speech delivered to the
National Meeting to Establish Associations between Indonesian
Provincial Legislative Councils.

Gus Dur said the National Meeting was held to commemorate
Legislation No 22/1999 and 25/1999 concerning regional autonomy.
"Actually to be honest the legislation has happened too quickly. I=92
ve tried to question whether the regions are actually ready for
this. There are some that want this to be slowed down. However,
what can I do, it has already been decided. We will just wait and
see," he said.

In recent weeks, the government has been concerned with falling
foreign investment as most companies await the implementation of
the regional autonomy legislation, to come into effect in January
2001.

The President made a point of pointing out these concerns to the
assembled dignitaries. He said there were two points which must be
remembered throughout. "First, the desire to base all matters on a
balance between rights and obligations. So, don=92t just demand the
rights. Second, the provinces can not just ride rough-shod over
international commitments, especially in terms of trade," he said.

Gus Dur then spoke on the confusion amongst some regional leaders
who wished to maintain their business interests in companies in the
provinces. "That can not happen. If one wishes to have business
interests, they must set up their own companies and compete
normally," he explained.

"Those areas are not ready. If they want self autonomy they need to
stop the troubles in their areas and return them to normality,"
explained Gus Dur. The President also commented on widespread fears
that resource- rich provinces would benefit disproportionally from
regional autonomy.

He reminded delegates that the provinces were mutually dependent
and responsible for economic development. "Don=92t let a resource
rich regions put pressure on the have nots," said Gus Dur.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
President Disapproves Move To Fill Up All Gov`t Posts With
Native-Born
Thursday, November 02, 2000/3:46:42 PM
Jakarta, Nov 2 (ANTARA)

President Abdurrahman Wahid asserted here Thursday that it would
not be right for provincial governments to fill up all government
posts with native-born.

"Electing a native to the post of head of the region might be
justifiable. But the same will not apply to other posts," President
Wahid said in a get-together with the All-Indonesia Provincial
Legislative Assemblies Association at the Bina Graha presidential
office.

The association, which consists of leaders of all provincial
legislative assemblies in the country, gathered in Jakarta for a
meeting to formulate inputs for the central government concerning
development in the provinces.

According to the president, filling up all government positions in
the provinces with native-born would result in the disintegration
of the country.

He suggested that the provinces review their readiness to carry out
regional autonomy, which takes effect starting Jan 1, 2001.

In implementing regional autonomy, he said, he expects the
provinces to observe all international conventions which have been
ratified by Indonesia, particularly those regarding the observance
of human rights.

"Besides, the provinces should avoid exploiting existing
institutions for the sake of earning more revenues," he said.

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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=============================================================================

Subj: Press Release:Parliamentarians for W Papua set up
Date: 11/2/00 8:39:59 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com
CC: ericavebury@hotmail.com

Press Release November 2, 2000

Australian Parliamentarian Group for West Papua
was established in Canberra.

Last week, New Zealand Parliamentarian Group for West Papua was formed
in Wellington sponsored by MPs from New Zealand Green, Alliance and Labour
parties.

Today, November 2, 2000, Australian Parliamentarian Group for West Papua
was established in Federal Parliament House, Canberra, co-sponsored by
representatives of all political parties. Senator Bob Brown from Green
Party who initiated this establishment underlined that one of mayor
objectives of this group is to raise a debate about the political future of
the people of West Papua in Australian Parliament and community.

In a briefing, John Kocknak, representative of West Papuan Liberation Army
(TEPENAL) who now is touring in Australia told the Senators and MPs that
such group is very vital indeed because it inspires our people.

Otto Ondawame who is International Spokesperson of the OPM in his briefing
said:

"We are very happy that new Parliamentarian Group for West Papua was also
established in Canberra today. The current political situation in West
Papua today requires special attention. Tension between pro-and anti
independent groups has already alarmed that new bloodshed is unavoidable.
We do not want what happened in East Timor in the post-referendum and
Moluccass in the last few months will repeat again in West Papua. I hope
the group will be an important body that will raise Parliamentarian
concern over the current situation in West Papua".

Regarding the future plan, Ondawame hope that the other countries
particularly, the Netherlands, Ireland, the USA, Japan, Papua New Guinea,
the European Unions and Sweden will follow the good will of these
Pacific neighbours.

END

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Papua Provincial Council Feels Left Out Of
Date: 11/2/00 4:14:33 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org

Negotiations
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Precedence: bulk
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DetikWorld.com
Papua Provincial Council Feels Left Out Of Negotiations
Reporter: Shinta M Sinaga / GB
detikworld =96 Jakarta

The Provincial Legislative Council in Indonesia=92s eastern-most
province of West Papua (Irian Jaya) feels left behind as the
central government and the separatist Papua Presidium negotiate to
ease tensions.

"We feel left behind by the Papua Presidium and the central
government. But basically we are committed to always communicating
in finding solutions to Irian=92s problems," said Kaiwai, Chairman of
the Provincial Council, Thursday (2/11/2000). Kawai was in Jakarta
as a delegate of the National Meeting to Establish Associations
between Indonesian Provincial Legislative Councils.

He said that the Presidium had approached the provincial council in
the past and that they had been the ones to facilitate meetings
between the Presidium and the Indonesian parliament.

"But then they felt that they could go ahead alone, they even met
with the President. They no longer go through us or communicate
with us," he said.

It was as if they had a hotline between Irian and Jakarta. "Just
imagine it, they were also able of heading overseas," he added.

When asked if his attitude was a sign of the disappointment of the
entire provincial council because they had been excluded from the
negotiations to resolve tensions in the province, Kaiwai shook his
head. "This is not a matter of being disappointed or not, but of
our commitment," he said.

As widely reported, President Abdurrahman Wahid met Presidium
leaders last week (24/10/2000) to discuss various issues, including
the central government=92s determination to stop the flying of the
separatist =91Morning Star=92 flag. They decided to form a joint team
to discuss the issues. Presidium members have also held recent
talks with high level national and provincial military and police
leaders.

Papua is currently under a caretaker administration. In addition,
many wonder whether these self- appointed independence leaders
represent the people of Papua. They are only loosely affiliated to
the Free Papua Movement (OPM) which has waged a limited war against
the Indonesian government since the 1970s. At least one leader of
the Presidium, Yorrys Raweyai, was a leader of the notorious Pemuda
Pancasila established by the Suharto regime as a band of hired
thugs linked to numerous human rights abuses and criminality.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Nobel prize winner backs Wahid
Date: 11/2/00 4:13:57 PM Central Standard Time
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South China Morning Post
Thursday, November 2, 2000
East Timor
Nobel prize winner backs Wahid
Associated Press in Washington - Updated at 12.10pm

Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta expressed hope that
Indonesia's government does not implode and its President
Abdurrahman Wahid reaches autonomy agreements with separatists in
two regions seeking independence.

But Mr Wahid, a democratic reformer, often is undermined by
Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri and powerful enemies in the
army opposed to any autonomy deal, Mr Ramos-Horta said on
Wednesday.

He said some elements in the army also were bent on stopping Mr
Wahid's attempts to consolidate democracy in the world's fourth
most populous nation. He said Mr Wahid, a half-blind Muslim cleric,
had received a lot of unfair criticism.

Mr Ramos-Horta urged the separatists in Acheh and Irian Jaya
province to ''walk halfway, seize the olive branch that is being
offered [by Mr Wahid] and strike the best possible deal for
autonomy now.''

Mr Ramos-Horta was sworn in last month as foreign minister in an
advisory cabinet set up by East Timor's UN administration.
Indonesia rule in the former Portuguese colony ended last year in a
wave of militia violence and devastation last year. Elections for
its first independent government are expected by the end of 2001.

Giving the World Press Freedom Committee's 14th annual Harold
Andersen Lecture, Mr Ramos-Horta said he hoped Mr Wahid ''could
avoid what happened in East Timor and keep the country together''.

He said Indonesia could go two ways - slide further into anarchy
and become ungovernable or endure a ''passing situation of
instability that lasts months but is manageable''.

Mr Ramos-Horta said the United States, Australia and all of
Indonesia's Asian neighbours do not want to see the country
disintegrate.

He praised the US Ambassador in Jakarta, Robert Gelbard, for
speaking frankly to Indonesia officials.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: JP: Failure of a Indon development plan
Date: 11/3/00 2:55:01 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com

The Jakarta Post
November 3, 2000

Opinion

Failure of a development plan

JAKARTA (JP): We have failed in the past three decades to correct the
existing uneven development. Instead, our national development plan has,
intentionally or otherwise, brought about wide gaps among regions.

We have adopted national development programs which ignored the fact
thatIndonesia is a unique archipelago -- pluralistic and rich in local
specifics -- facing multidimensional challenges.

We have long realized that we have been tardy in developing Irian Jaya. Yet
we remain inactive, motionless and trapped in a cultural impasse. We remain
incapable of being more creative in handling the developmental challenges to
accommodate the local regional demands.

President Abdurrahman Wahid has committed an irreversible mistake by agreeing
that Irian Jaya be renamed Papua without the House of Representatives'
approval, ignoring the political and legal implications ofthe move. Senior
diplomats including Sumaryo Suryokusumo have argued that changing the name
was a big mistake. West Irian is the name that is accepted by the
international world, according to the United Nations resolution.

I have also protested the President's decision but we need to try to
understand the goodwill, if misplaced, of Abdurrahman as a novice in state
affairs.

Former president Soeharto in 1993 had assigned then minister B.J. Habibie to
lead a national commission to accelerate eastern Indonesia's development.

Had this project been completed, this mess would not have happened.
True,there was development in Irian Jaya, but only of routine projects. In
addition it was merely a development taking place in Irian Jaya, not a
development from the people, by the people and for the people of Irian Jaya.

There were no participation or emancipation for the Irianese in the
developments. They were national development objects but the local people did
not become the subjects of the development.

President Abdurrahman set up the office of state minister in charge of the
acceleration of developments in east Indonesia.

Will Junior Minister for the Acceleration for the Development of Eastern
Indonesia, Manuel Kaisiepo, be able to achieve this goal and establish models
of development that involves the participation and emancipation of, in
particular, the Irianese?

The signs of neglect abound. Ten percent of (mining giant) Freeport
Indonesia's shares was easily granted to leading businessman Aburizal Bakrie
-- no trace of discomfort on his part when so easily acquiescing them. It was
reported later that the shares were transferred to another businessman, Bob
Hasan.

These 10 percent shares, or more if possible, should have been owned by the
Irian Jaya regional administration.

But Irianese have merely become spectators of the developments. They havebeen
sidelined. But our brethren in the eastern part of Indonesia should know that
most of us in the western part of the archipelago have never agreed to the
injustices occurring in Irian Jaya or elsewhere. The pain of the Irianese,
the East Timorese and the Maluku people, is also ours.

Police have declared a state of red alert, following the recent unrest in
Wamena which claimed dozens of lives. Thousands of people have been displaced
and this is extremely sorrowful and heartrending.

The incident followed the forceful hauling down of the Morning Star (Bintang
Kejora) flags by police troops, as instructed by National Police chief.

A directive on how to carry out this instruction should have been issued to
prevent such incidents from taking place.

Perhaps President Abdurrahman should issue guidelines to anticipate the
consequences of the existing national policy on prohibiting the hoisting oft
he Morning Star flag (or the Free Aceh Movement flag of Aceh).

The Morning Star flag will continue to fly in Irian Jaya unless there is real
development -- one that welcomes local participation and emancipation. The
Morning Star flag is the West Papuan's identity, a personification and
expression of the customs and culture of their ancestors; it is their
heartbeat.

The flag is at the same time a strong protest against arbitrary actions,
injustice, and sociopolitical and sociocultural insubordination.

The problem is, where should the Morning Star flag be placed or positioned in
the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia which has its own
independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity?

The Morning Star flag should be allowed to fly under the protection of the
national Red and White flag. It must not be placed on equal heights on the
mast or be of the same size.

It must be smaller than the Red and White and it must be positioned underthe
Red and White or on the left side of it, especially in local and customary
ceremonies.

The flags of states or provinces in other countries also fly under such
subordination, though this is not known as yet in Indonesia.

However, if this flag policy were applied to Irian Jaya exclusively, it would
discriminate against other provinces. So there should first be a national
legislation that is enforced throughout the country stipulating that
provincial flags shall fly under the protection of the Red and White.

Similarly it may be identified, determined and agreed upon that provincial
flags exist as a reflection of the personality and identity of the provinces.
The flags of all provinces, like contingent flags, must be seen as
"components" of the Red and White.

Take the logo of the Jakarta administration for example; it used to gracethe
left and right front doors of Jakarta's official cars. Why not hoist flags
showing the logos in local offices, positioning them under or on the
left-hand side of the Red and White?

This move may alleviate fears of separatism while recognizing the customs,
culture and identity of the societies in the provinces concerned.

The writer is chairman of a mass organization called SOKSI-Reformasi and
leader of the National Reform Movement.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=======================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Government to get tough on Papuan task force (2
Date: 11/2/00 4:14:18 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org

Articles)
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Thursday, November 2 1:04 PM SGT
Police threaten to arrest independence guards in Indonesian
province
JAKARTA, Nov 2 (AFP)

Police in Indonesia's Irian Jaya province vowed Thursday to arrest
pro-independence guards refusing to leave a government building
they have adopted as their headquarters, an officer said.

"Their time is up," Jayapura police chief Lieutenant Colonel Daud
Sihombing told AFP, referring to a three-day deadline which expired
Thursday.

Jayapura is the capital of the mountainous province of Irian Jaya,
known locally as West Papua, which makes up the western half of New
Guinea island.

Pro-independence guards calling themselves the Satgas Papua (or
Papua Taskforce) appropriated the official Jayapura Cultural Center
several months ago and have turned it into their command post,
Sihombing said.

On Monday Sihombing, under instructions from acting governor
Musirwan Darmosuwito, gave Papua Taskforce members three days to
vacate the building.

"We've already asked them three times to leave voluntarily, but
they are still there. So we shall employ forceful methods," he
said, outlining summonses, arrests, and trials as the next steps.

"If they ignore the summonses, we will arrest them. If after
questioning they are found to have violated the law, we will put
them on trial," Sihombing said, ruling out the use of violence.

The use of police force to tear down separatist Morning Star flags
in the Irian Jaya hinterland town of Wamena last month resulted in
the deaths of 31 people, most of them killed during ensuing riots.

Jayapura authorities want the building to function again as a
government-owned cultural center.

"The building is a state asset which is not currently being used
for its intended function," Sihombing said.

Independence leaders claim the center belongs to the people of
Papua because it was there that Papuan independence was first
declared in 1961.

"It has belonged to us since 1962," self-styled independence leader
Theys Eluay told AFP on Wednesday.

Eluay has ordered his supporters to defy the governor's orders and
stand their ground.

"I have instructed (them) to occupy the building. They cannot be
pushed out," he told AFP, adding that the building was "in the
hands of the Papua Council leaders."

The cultural center is one of only two remaining places around
Jayapura where the separatist "Morning Star" flag continues to fly.

Sihombing however said his orders did not touch on the flag.

"That is a separate problem altogether. That is already being dealt
with by the president," he said. "I'm only concerned with the
building.

The government renewed its ban on the Morning Star flag in the wake
of deadly riots on October 6 in Wamena.

An October 19 deadline for the flags' removal was put on hold in a
move to avoid further violence, pending the outcome of negotiations
between separatist leaders and President Abdurrahman Wahid.

On October 19 hundreds of uniformed taskforce members stood guard
at the cultural center in anticipation of attempts to remove the
flag, vowing to martyr themselves and "become victims" in its
defence.

Dozens of Taskforce members gather at the cultural center for
ceremonial raisings of the Morning Star each dawn, and its removal
at sunset.

Provincial police spokesman Major Zulkifli said Thursday that
around ten Taskforce members were patrolling the front of the
building, and dozens of residents had gathered outside.

"But there's nothing going on, everything is calm," he told AFP.

Papuans have made increasingly vociferous calls for independence in
recent years, climaxing with a mass congress in June at which they
demanded Jakarta recognise that they had been independent since
December 1961.

Independence leaders say a UN-conducted "act of free choice" in
1969, which led to the former Dutch territory becoming part of
Indonesia, was unrepresentative.

Irian Jaya is home to a native Melanesian population of 1.8 million
people, most of them Christians, plus another 700,000 settlers from
other parts of Indonesia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
November 03, 2000
Government to get tough on Papuan task force

JAKARTA (JP): Local authorities vowed on Thursday to take stern
measures against the pro-independence Papuan taskforce who have
commandeered a government-owned provincial art building as their
headquarters.

"Their time is up, but we'll try persuasive measures first so as to
avoid possible casualties," Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y.
Wenas told The Jakarta Post by telephone from Jayapura.

Wenas said a meeting between the leaders of the Papua Council
Presidium (PDP) will take place on Nov. 9 to further discuss steps
to lower the Morning Star separatist flag at the provincial art
council in Jayapura and at the house of Council chief Theys Hiyo
Eluay in Sentani district.

"The government's orders towards separatist movements are clear,
there isno tolerance.

"On the field local authorities are trying to be flexible but if
they (separatist) make an unlawful move, we'll arrest them," Wenas
warned.

Provincial authorities want the building to function again as a
government-owned cultural center.

"The building is a state asset which is not currently being used
for its intended function," Wenas said.

Independence leaders have claimed that the culture center belongs
to the people of Papua because it was there that Papuan
independence was first declared in 1961.

Earlier on Wednesday, however, Theys Hiyo Eluay instructed his
supporters to defy the governor's orders and stand their ground.

"I have instructed (them) to occupy the building. They cannot be
pushed out until further talks with authorities on Nov. 9," he
said.

Police and military, however, have intensified their security alert
in response to the Council's claim that it would declare
independence and hoist the Morning Star separatist flag on Dec. 1.

Meanwhile a personnel reshuffle has also taken place within the
Trikora Military Command which overseas Irian Jaya.

Antara quoted Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Albert
Inkiriwang as saying that Intelligence Assistant Col. Inf. MR
Saragih has been replaced by Col. Inf Armen Tonny, while
Operational Assistant Col. Inf Mardikowoto has been replaced by
Col. Inf Joey Sihotang.

The Command's Territorial Assistant Col. Inf Wais Negkeula has been
replaced by Col. Inf Halasan Simanjuntak and Logistic Assistant
Col. Inf Rahman has been succeeded by Col. Soebroto. (edt)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: TAPOL
Received from Joyo Indonesian News

also: Papua Presidium stalls on flag lowering until at least 9
November

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political
November 1, 2000
Source: Radio New Zealand, Wellington, in English 0800 gmt 1 Nov 00
Indonesia: Separatists flags said still flying in Papua/Irian Jaya

A grass-roots organization in the Indonesian province of Papua
Irian Jaya says reports from the capital, Port Numbay Jayapura ,
say separatists have again defied the authorities and refused to
lower the banned Morning Star flag. A police order from Jakarta
demanded that the flag of the separatist province be lowered by
today, in line with an earlier ultimatum which was allowed to lapse
because of fear of unrest. The security forces took down flags in
Wamena in the Highlands nearly a month ago, triggering a backlash
by the Papuans which left dozens of people dead.

A spokesman for the Penis Gourd People Assembly Council in Wamena,
(?Sen Koroba), says no Morning Star flag can be seen in town any
more as a large number of troops have been deployed, coinciding
with a visit to Wamena by several Indonesian government ministers.
He says his movement's call to crowd around the separatists' office
in Port Numbay has apparently stopped police action to remove the
flag there.

Koroba, in Wamena The Papua regular commander of the police, Mr
Wenas, just came down to meet them and said we need a peace deal
now, we don't want war. And he said we are not going to lower down
the flag now.

----------------

BBC Worldwide Monitoring
November 1, 2000
Source: Antara news agency, Jakarta, in Indonesian 0000 gmt 11 Jan
00
Indonesia: Papua Presidium stalls on flag lowering until at least 9
November

Jayapura, 1st November: On 9th November, the Papua Presidium
Council (PDP) will meet Irian Jaya provincial government and
security officials to inform them of the PDP's plans for lowering
Morning Star flags throughout the province.

After separate meetings with the governor, Military Area commander
and Police chief in Jayapura on Wednesday 1st November morning, PDP
chair Theys Eluay said that the PDP would deliver their plans for
lowering the flags on 9th November.

He said that the meeting would be postponed until 9th November as
several PDP members were still overseas. He said that he would be
reporting to President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) on the results
of a PDP meeting on the matter.

Theys called on the community, particularly transmigrants, not to
be overly concerned because the Papuan Independence struggle would
be conducted peacefully.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

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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=============================================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Govt prepares concept to prevent separatism, riots
Date: 11/2/00 4:13:52 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
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To: kabar-irian@irja.org

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Indonesian Observer
Friday, November 03 - 2000
Govt prepares concept to prevent separatism, riots

JAKARTA (IO) =97 The government said is preparing a comprehensive
integrated plan of action in an effort to end separatism and ethnic
or religious conflicts in several troubled provinces, an official
said.

Secretary General of the National Resilience Council (Wantanas)
Arifin Tarigan said he will today meet Coordinating Minister for
Politics, Social, and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss
the concept.

Tarigan suggested that the government should outline a more
comprehensive approach other than a single oriented approach.

=93I see the crisis gets only normal treatment. I hope all crisis-hit
territory would be managed with crisis approach,=94 Tarigan told
legislators during a working meeting at parliament here yesterday.

He said problems in Aceh or other territories should be resolved
through political agreement.

=93There must be no contradiction between the idea of the government
and the idea of legislators. This is not the problem of the
government, but the problem of the whole country.=94

He emphasized any government could launch military operations in
conflicting areas. Military operation in time of peace is included
in UN Resolution 1514 issued in 1960.

=93It is called military operation other than war,=94 he said.

When racial violence hit Los Angeles, Tarigan said, US troops were
deployed to disperse rioters.

=93When the US troops were deployed, human rights values could have
been ignored. We are now engulfed in human rights values, that=92s
why we do nothing in dealing with conflicts in regional areas,=94 he
said.

On the behavior of the political elite, Tarigan urged political
leaders to exercise self-restraint in order to prevent violence in
the regions.

Political rivalry in Jakarta among the political elite has often
resulted in conflicts in the regions.

=93We must realize that we serve the people, not they serving us,=94 he
said.

He emphasized that inter-institutional ties between the president
and parliament should be governed by regulations.

=93The development of democracy must be bolstered by the political
structure,=94 he added.

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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=============================================================================

Subj: Government to get tough on Papuan task force
Date: 11/3/00 2:54:37 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org

REceived from Joyo Indonesian News

also: Police warn Papua rebels of crackdown

The Jakarta Post
November 3, 2000

Government to get tough on Papuan task force

JAKARTA (JP): Local authorities vowed on Thursday to take stern measures
against the proindependence Papuan taskforce who have commandeered a
government-owned provincial art building as their headquarters.

"Their time is up, but we'll try persuasive measures first so as to
avoidpossible casualties," Irian Jaya Police chief Brig. Gen. S.Y. Wenas told
The Jakarta Post by telephone from Jayapura.

Wenas said a meeting between the leaders of the Papua Council Presidium (PDP)
will take place on Nov. 9 to further discuss steps to lower the Morning Star
separatist flag at the provincial art council in Jayapura and at the house of
Council chief Theys Hiyo Eluay in Sentani district.

"The government's orders towards separatist movements are clear, there isno
tolerance.

"On the field local authorities are trying to be flexible but if they
(separatist) make an unlawful move, we'll arrest them," Wenas warned.

Provincial authorities want the building to function again as a
government-owned cultural center.

"The building is a state asset which is not currently being used for its
intended function," Wenas said.

Independence leaders have claimed that the culture center belongs to the
people of Papua because it was there that Papuan independence was first
declared in 1961.

Earlier on Wednesday, however, Theys Hiyo Eluay instructed his supporters to
defy the governor's orders and stand their ground.

"I have instructed (them) to occupy the building. They cannot be pushed out
until further talks with authorities on Nov. 9," he said.

Police and military, however, have intensified their security alert in
response to the Council's claim that it would declare independence and hoist
the Morning Star separatist flag on Dec. 1.

Meanwhile a personnel reshuffle has also taken place within the Trikora
Military Command which overseas Irian Jaya.

Antara quoted Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Albert Inkiriwang as
saying that Intelligence Assistant Col. Inf. MR Saragih has been replaced by
Col. Inf Armen Tonny, while Operational Assistant Col. Inf Mardikowoto has
been replaced by Col. Inf Joey Sihotang.

The Command's Territorial Assistant Col. Inf Wais Negkeula has been replaced
by Col. Inf Halasan Simanjuntak and Logistic Assistant Col. Inf Rahman has
been succeeded by Col. Soebroto. (edt)

--------------------------------
Indonesian Observer
November 2, 2000

Police warn Papua rebels of crackdown

JAKARTA (IO) - Police in the troubled province of Irian Jaya threatened
yesterday to arrest members of the rebel Papuan Task Force (Satgas Papua)
if they continuously refuse to leave a government building which they have
adopted as their headquarters.

"Their time is up," Jayapura Police Chief Lieutenant Colonel Daud
Sihombing told AFP, referring to a three-day deadline that expired
yesterday.

The Task Force, which was set up by the Papua separatist movement,
accupied the Jayapura Cultural Center several months ago and have turned
it into their command post, Sihombing said.

On Monday Sihombing, under instructions from acting Irian Jaya Governor
Musirwan Darmosuwito, gave the Task Force members three days to vacate the
building.

"We've already asked them three times to leave voluntarily. We shall
employ forceful methods," he said, outlining summonses, arrests, and
trials as the next steps. "If they ignore the summonses, we will arrest
them. If after questioning they are found to have violated the law, we
will put them on trial," Sihombing said, ruling out the use of violence.

The use of police force to tear down separatist Morning Star flags in
Wamena last month resulted in the deaths of 31 people, mostly people from
outside the island who were killed by the Irianese during ensuing riots.

Jayapura authorities want the building to function again as a government-
owned cultural center.

"The building is a state asset which is not currently being used for its
intended function," Sihombing said.

Pro-independence leaders claim the center belongs to the people of Papua
because it was there that Papuan independence was first declared in 1961.

"It has belonged to us since 1962," Chairman of the Papua Presidium
Council Theys Eluay said yesterday.

"I have instructed [them] to occupy the building. They cannot be pushed
out," he told AFP, adding that the building was "in the hands of the Papua
Council leaders."

The cultural center is one of only two remaining places around Jayapura
where the separatist "Morning Star" flag continues to fly.

Sihombing however said his orders did not touch on the flag. "That is a
separate problem altogether, it is being dealt with by the president."

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

======================================================

Subj: Defiant W.Papua leader orders supporters to ignore police call
Date: 11/1/00 6:16:37 AM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: westpapua@topica.com
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Defiant Papua leader orders supporters to ignore police call

JAKARTA, Nov 1 (AFP) - A pro-independence leader Wednesday ordered his
supporters in Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya to ignore a
police order to vacate a building and lower a separatist flag flown there, a
report said.

Papuan leader, Theys Piyo Eluay, said the Papua Taskforce should maintain its
occupation of the Irian Jaya Cultural Center in downtown Jayapura, the
capital of Irian Jaya, the state Antara news agency reported.

The building has been appropriated by the taskforce as its headquarters since
June.

He also told some 100 members of the taskforce, a pro-independence civilian
guard, to keep the "Morning Star" separatist flag flying there until an
agreement is reached over its lowering in negotiations with the local
authorities.

After issuing his orders, Eluay, who heads the presidium of the
pro-independence Papua Council, went into negotiations with government
officials, police and military in Irian Jaya.

Eluay's order came after Jayapura Police Chief Superintendent Daud Sihombing
on Monday ordered the Papua Taskforce to disband and vacate the building and
to lower the Morning Star flying there.

"The governor has ordered the Satgas Papua (Papua Taskforce) to desert the
... building so that it can re-function as the government building it is,"
Irian Jaya police spokesman Major Zulkifli told AFP by phone.

Zulkifli said Jayapura city police had issued the order at the request of
acting governor Musiran Darmosuwito, and that the deadline for it to come
down was Thursday.

Sihombing had earlier given Wednesday as a deadline for his order.

The Papua Taskforce last month declared they were ready to die in defence of
the flag, and warned that any casualties among Irian Jaya's settler
population would be "the responsibility of police."

Attempts by police to forcibly remove the Morning Star flag from the
hinterland town of Wamena on October 6 sparked riots that killed 31 people,
mostly migrant settlers.

The central government reacted by declaring a full ban on the flag, and
police set a staggered series of deadlines for its removal, starting with the
provincial capital Jayapura on October 19. But the Morning Star has continued
to fly in two places in Jayapura, at the Cultural Center and at Eluay's home.

When it announced the ban, the Indonesian cabinet said the flag had become a
symbol of separatism.

Wahid first authorised the flying of the Morning Star flag in December last
year, on the condition it flew alongside and beneath Indonesia's national
flag.

Papuans have made increasingly vociferous calls for independence in recent
years, climaxing with a mass congress in June at which they demanded Jakarta
recognise they had been independent since December 1961.

Independence leaders say a UN-conducted "act of free choice" in 1969, which
led to the former Dutch territory becoming part of Indonesia, was
unrepresentative.

Wahid has pledged not to tolerate separatism in the province, promising broad
autonomy instead by the end of the year.

Irian Jaya's 2.5 million people are mainly Melanesian Christians.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

=======================================================

Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Wahid tries to heal rift over closure of US Embassy
Date: 11/1/00 7:02:28 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
To: kabar-irian@irja.org

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Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday, November 2, 2000
Wahid tries to heal rift over closure of US Embassy

Jakarta: Indonesia's embattled President said yesterday that
Washington still supported him despite public criticism of the
United States Ambassador by officials, and security fears that have
forced the partial shutdown of the US Embassy.

President Abdurrahman Wahid said that the closure of the embassy's
visa and passport sections had not damaged Indonesia's image abroad
and that his administration was still respected overseas.

But while Mr Wahid tried to heal the rift, a Foreign Ministry
spokesman criticised the US Embassy's extended closure and said it
gave the impression the country was spiralling out of control.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Sulaiman Abdul Manan, said it was up
to Washington's tough-talking ambassador, Robert Gelbard, to soothe
the bilateral friction that has prompted some Indonesian
politicians to demand his recall.

"The closure gives an image that the situation in Indonesia is out
of control and unsafe," Mr Abdul Manan said.

Some Indonesian leaders - including the Defence Minister, Mr
Mohamad Mahfud - have accused Mr Gelbard of meddling in the
country's internal affairs. However, Mr Gelbard has made no public
statements in weeks.

The embassy said yesterday that the week-old partial closure had
been extended for at least two more days because of a "credible
threat" to its security.

Meanwhile, in the eastern province of West Papua, formerly known as
Irian Jaya, police yesterday postponed implementing an order to
pull down all separatist flags until next week, to allow for talks
with pro-independence leaders.

Mr Wahid last week ordered the lowering of all Morning Star flags,
with officials giving a deadline of November 1.

But the West Papua police chief, Silvanus Wenas, said authorities
wanted to avoid conflict and would discuss the issue on November 9
with independence leaders.

Most separatist flags have been lowered, but several still fly in
places sensitive to the pro-independence movement, including one at
the Jayapura's arts centre, police said.
-- Associated Press and agencies

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] W Papua a Winner at Pacific Isl. Forum...
Date: 11/1/00 6:59:32 PM Central Standard Time
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West Papua A Winner At Pacific Islands Forum, Says Franzalbert Joku
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
(October 31, 2000 - The National/PINA Nius Online)

West Papuan independence leaders will seek direct talks with
Australian Prime Minister John Howard after scoring an historic
diplomatic victory at a meeting of Pacific leaders.

The 16 member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum at the weekend
agreed to send a message to Indonesia and secessionist groups in
embattled West Papua calling for an end to violence.

And the final communiqu=E9 toughened up the Forum leaders statement
on West Papua, Radio Australia reported.

Two words were added to include past atrocities in the Forum
leaders expression of concern about killings in West Papua, it
said. The statement still recognizes Indonesia as the sovereign
authority in West Papua. It says Forum leaders express "deep
concern about past and recent violence and loss of life in West
Papua," Radio Australia said.

They've urged Indonesia and the Papuan secessionists to resolve
their difficulties peacefully through dialogue and consultation.

West Papuan representatives at the Forum, held at Tarawa, Kiribati,
hailed the outcome as a diplomatic victory, which for the first
time gave their struggle international legitimacy.

"For more than three decades we never had any success in getting a
hearing, a sympathetic hearing," Papua Council spokesman
Franzalbert Joku told journalists.

"This is an historical moment for West Papua . . . suddenly we are
there on meeting agendas and so I think something major is
unfolding based on the reality of what is occurring on the ground
in West Papua." Mr Joke said the communiqu=E9 inclusion, which was
opposed by Canberra, would give the people of West Papua the legal
basis to begin talks with Forum members, including Australia.

"We have made contact with Australian officials at the lower end of
the echelon, but if there is now an opportunity to talk with Prime
Minister (John) Howard or Foreign Minister Alexander Downer we will
happily do so," he said.

But he conceded that the campaign to free West Papua of Indonesian
rule could result in bloodshed far worse than was seen in East
Timor.

He said the Australian fears for bloodshed were not unfounded.

"That possibility exists and it is the responsibility of, in the
first instance, West Papuan leaders, Australia, Papua New Guinea .
. . to ensure that this does not happen," he said.

"That=92s why I think peaceful dialogue which is being promoted by
the Papuan leaders should get the support of the countries in the
region, particularly Australia and Papua New Guinea, because
whatever will happen will directly affect the two countries."

Mr. Joku was raised in Rabaul and became a prominent journalist and
then adviser to two Papua New Guinea prime ministers, Pais Wingti
and Sir Julius Chan.

Mr. Howard later ruled out a meeting with the West Papuans.

"They may have made some pro forma request, but I won=92t be meeting
them because they don=92t have any status," he said.

"They=92ve come here as an ad hoc addition to one of the delegations
(Nauru). I don=92t make any comment on that, but I won=92t be talking
to them because it would not be appropriate and it would be
contrary to the stance that Australia takes in relation to the
sovereignty of Indonesia."

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Situation in IrJa (4 Articles)
Date: 11/1/00 7:00:25 PM Central Standard Time
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Wednesday, November 1 2:43 PM SGT
Defiant Papua leader orders supporters to ignore police call
JAKARTA, Nov 1 (AFP)

A pro-independence leader Wednesday ordered his supporters in
Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya to ignore a police
order to vacate a building and lower a separatist flag flown there,
a report said.

Papuan leader, Theys Piyo Eluay, said the Papua Taskforce should
maintain its occupation of the Irian Jaya Cultural Center in
downtown Jayapura, the capital of Irian Jaya, the state Antara news
agency reported.

The building has been appropriated by the taskforce as its
headquarters since June.

He also told some 100 members of the taskforce, a pro-independence
civilian guard, to keep the "Morning Star" separatist flag flying
there until an agreement is reached over its lowering in
negotiations with the local authorities.

After issuing his orders, Eluay, who heads the presidium of the
pro-independence Papua Council, went into negotiations with
government officials, police and military in Irian Jaya.

Eluay's order came after Jayapura Police Chief Superintendent Daud
Sihombing on Monday ordered the Papua Taskforce to disband and
vacate the building and to lower the Morning Star flying there.

"The governor has ordered the Satgas Papua (Papua Taskforce) to
desert the ... building so that it can re-function as the
government building it is," Irian Jaya police spokesman Major
Zulkifli told AFP by phone.

Zulkifli said Jayapura city police had issued the order at the
request of acting governor Musiran Darmosuwito, and that the
deadline for it to come down was Thursday.

Sihombing had earlier given Wednesday as a deadline for his order.

The Papua Taskforce last month declared they were ready to die in
defence of the flag, and warned that any casualties among Irian
Jaya's settler population would be "the responsibility of police."

Attempts by police to forcibly remove the Morning Star flag from
the hinterland town of Wamena on October 6 sparked riots that
killed 31 people, mostly migrant settlers.

The central government reacted by declaring a full ban on the flag,
and police set a staggered series of deadlines for its removal,
starting with the provincial capital Jayapura on October 19. But
the Morning Star has continued to fly in two places in Jayapura, at
the Cultural Center and at Eluay's home.

When it announced the ban, the Indonesian cabinet said the flag had
become a symbol of separatism.

Wahid first authorised the flying of the Morning Star flag in
December last year, on the condition it flew alongside and beneath
Indonesia's national flag.

Papuans have made increasingly vociferous calls for independence in
recent years, climaxing with a mass congress in June at which they
demanded Jakarta recognise they had been independent since December
1961.

Independence leaders say a UN-conducted "act of free choice" in
1969, which led to the former Dutch territory becoming part of
Indonesia, was unrepresentative.

Wahid has pledged not to tolerate separatism in the province,
promising broad autonomy instead by the end of the year.

Irian Jaya's 2.5 million people are mainly Melanesian Christians.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
Papua Council To Decide On Lowering Of Flag On Nov 9
Wednesday, November 01, 2000/3:01:56 PM
Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Nov 1 (ANTARA)

The Papua Council Presidium on Nov 9 will reportedly inform the
Irian Jaya provincial government of its plan on the lowering of the
separatist movement`s Morning Star flag.

Chairman of the Papua Council Presidium, Theys Hiyo Eluay, made a
statement to that effect here on Wednesday after a meeting with
Irian Jaya`s governor, military commander and police chief.

According to Theys, the decision on the lowering of the flag has to
be postponed until Nov 9 because some presidium members are still
abroad.

Theys told ANTARA that during the short meeting, he expressed
appreciation to Irian Jaya`s formal leaders for their understanding
of the general condition of the Papua Council Presidium.

In the next meeting, Theys pointed out, he would report on the
results of the Presidium`s meeting with President Abdurrahman
Wahid, and discuss the plan on the lowering of the Morning Star
flag in the province and other relevant matters.

On the occasion, Theys also asked migrants not be uneasy because
"the struggle for a Free Papua will be pursued peacefully."

Defy police instruction
Before the meeting with the governor, Theys had ordered the Papua
Task Force to continue occupying the Irian Jaya Cultural Center
building at the heart of Jayapura city.

He also directed the Papua Task Force to continue flying the
Morning Star flag at the building until further notice, according
to the conclusion of a meeting between the Papua Council Presidium
and the provincial government.

Two days ago, Jayapura municipality police chief, Superintendent
Daud Sihombing, instructed the Papua Task Force to quit its
headquarters at the Cultural Center building, and lower the Morning
Star flag being flown there.

Sihombing set Wednesday (Nov 1) as the deadline for the
implementation of his instruction.

However, as this report was being filed, there has been no move by
the security authorities to evict the Papua Task Force from the
building.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: TAPOL

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Jakarta delays pulling down separatist Irian flags
By Achmad Sukarsono
JAKARTA, Nov 1 (Reuters)

Indonesian police in Irian Jaya on Wednesday postponed implementing
an order to pull down all separatist flags in the restive province
until next week, to allow talks to be held with pro-independence
leaders.

President Abdurrahman Wahid last week ordered the lowering of all
"Morning Star" flags, and officials had said the deadline was
November 1, sparking fears of violence between security forces and
the province's increasingly vocal independence supporters.

But Irian Jaya police chief Silvanus Wenas said authorities wanted
to avoid conflict in removing the remaining flags, and would
discuss the issue with independence leaders grouped under an
umbrella body called the Papua Presidium on November 9.

"We will postpone the lowering of all the flags until November 9,
when the presidium can meet us with their full leadership," Wenas
told Reuters by telephone from Jayapura, capital of the remote and
resource-rich province.

He said police had tried to meet with the presidium leadership on
Wednesday, but most were out of Jayapura.

Indonesian police have ignored earlier orders to pull down the
remaining flags in some parts of the sparsely-populated province to
avoid a repeat of clashes between police, separatists and settlers
last month that killed dozens of people.

Those clashes were triggered after police pulled down a separatist
flag in the highland town of Wamena on October 6.

Police said although they would eventually pull all of the flags
down, they wanted it done peacefully.

"We will do it in a persuasive manner," Wenas said.

Most separatist flags have been lowered over the vast province, but
several are still flying high in places sensitive to the
pro-independence movement, including one at the Jayapura's Arts
Centre, police said.

Lying at the eastern end of the huge archipelago, Irian Jaya, also
called West Papua, is home to around two million people and is one
of Indonesia's main separatist hotspots.

Independence demands have been exacerbated by Indonesia's harshness
in putting down separatists and the funnelling of much of the
province's wealth into Jakarta's coffers.

Many indigenous people -- some of whom still practise Stone Age
lifestyles -- also despise the presence of settlers who were
shipped in under previous government policies and dominate commerce
and account for almost half the population.

In a bid to ease tension, Wahid has promised greater autonomy for
Irian and said the territory would have more power to handle its
affairs. But he has refused to budge on independence.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DetikWorld.com
Wednesday, 11/01/2000
Morning Star Flag Removal Postponed Again
Reporter: Ananda Ismail / Hendra & GB
detikworld - Jakarta,

On Wednesday (1/11/2000), the symbol of the West Papuan
independence movement, the Morning Star flag, was set to be taken
down en masse. However, the police have postponed the move as they
are resigned to wait for a planned meeting with members of the
Papua Presidium set for next Thursday (9/11/2000).

Last week, President Wahid ordered the police to take down the
symbol of the independence movement . A government official said
the deadline was Wednesday and that its removal was a means of
reducing clashes between the security forces and supporters of the
Free Papua Movement (GPM).

Chief of the Irian Jaya Police, Silvanus Wenas, as quoted by
Reuters today, said his side wants to avoid conflict over the
removal of the flag. "We will postpone the removal of the Morning
Star flag till November 9 when the Presidium can meet with us,"
Wenas said via telephone Wednesday. He added that a meeting planned
for Wednesday was cancelled because many leaders of the Papua
Presidium had left the capital, Jayapura.

As previously reported, the removal of the Morning Star flag on
October 6 in Wamena triggered a violent clash between police and
independence supporters. While determined to remove the symbol of
the independence movement, Wenas said after the Wamena incident
that, "We prefer persuasive measures."

As widely reported, the town of Wamena in Indonesia=92s West Papua
(Irian Jaya) province, some 290 kilometers southwest of the capital
of Jayapura, was engulfed in a bloody riot last month after
security forces pulled down the Morning Star flag. At least 30,
mostly migrant settlers, were killed in the ensuing bloody riots. A
total of 35 suspects, mostly pro-independence members of the Satgas
Papua task force have been detained in relation with the riot.

Independence supporters have vowed to keep the flag flying and risk
further violence while President Abdurrahman Wahid has asked local
leaders to select another symbol.

"The Morning Star flag has been misused as a symbol of sovereignty
or independence," Cabinet Secretary Marsilam Simanjuntak told the
Jakarta Post on October 27 after a Cabinet meeting. "The President
said that (the Morning Star flag) should not be used any more and
told them to find another cultural symbol," he added.

Meanwhile in Jayapura, November 1 was also the deadline given by
the caretaker Governor of Papua province and the chief of the
Jayapura police for independence militia members to clear out of
their base at a local government-owned building where the Morning
Star flies everyday.

The police Chief, Lieutenant Col. Daud Sihombing, wrote to the
group and stated that if they had not left the premises the police
would use strong measures to force them out of the building. Not
details were available of whether the police backed up their stern
words.

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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Subj: [wp] Papua Task Force Declares Level I Alert [3 reports]
Date: 11/1/00 5:40:55 PM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: tapol@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com

REceived from Joyo Indonesian News

also: Pro-Indonesia group makes show of strength in Fakfak, Irian Jaya; and
Separatist leader warns of "new armed struggle"

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Excerpts from report by Indonesian newspaper 'Suara Pembaruan' web
site on 30th October; subheading as published

Papua Task Force Declares Level I Alert

Level I Alert

Wamena, 30th October: Coordinating Minister for Socio-Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the handling of the 6th October
Wamena unrest was extremely well done, appropriate and relatively speedy. He
hoped that other provinces would learn from experience.

"In the name of the constitution, sovereignty and integrity of the Unitary
Republic of Indonesia, we must take on every task with determination," the
minister said during a visit to Wamena, 30th October. The minister and
entourage were welcomed by the commander Trikora Military Area Command, Irian
Jaya Police chief, governor and Jayawijaya District officials.

The minister said that social factors, community dynamics and psychology
caused the Wamena incident. In future, the government would have formulated
the right approach, technique and methods for carrying out such duties of
state. The central government hoped that, in upholding the constitution,
violence,
casualties and property damage would be avoided.

The minister also said that the government had resolved that the Irian Jaya
problem should be solved in a truly just, realistic and permanent manner. He
admitted that under the previous government, many inappropriate things had
been done to the Irian Jaya population. "We want to give them a broader
expanse to work in, both politically, economically, socially, culturally,
legally and in the area of government administration," the minister said...

The minister said that the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) was the
government' partner, whose role was to give the central government
recommendations, suggestions and feedback on the people's aspirations. This
input would be used in formulating the special autonomy laws...

Meanwhile, the Papua Task Force has indefinitely imposed Level I Alert status
across Irian Jaya from 28th October in response to President Abdurrahman
Wahid (Gus Dur)' s latest statement that the Morning Star flag must be
lowered.

In an interview with Pembaruan at the main task force post in Jayapura,
Monday (30th October), Papua Task Force deputy general commander /Port Numbay
(Jayapura) Commandant, Barasano Barasano said that Papua Task Force troops
numbered 22,000 in all, with 4,000 in Port Numbay alone. All had been
informed of the Level I Alert, which was imposed to avoid undesirable
consequences stemming from Gus Dur's order that the Morning Star flag be
lowered...

He insisted that the Morning Star represented the self-respect and essence
of
the Papua nation, which no one had the right to remove. He said that lowering
the flag required the same process as raising it, that is a congress attended
by
all Papuans. The Papuan people must be gathered together and the question put
to them directly: do you want the flag up or down?

He called on non-Papuans not to be frightened or provoked by irresponsible
statements, which would only destroy the people themselves. "We the Papua
Task Force guarantee the security of all non-Papuans in Papua, for they too
are part of our struggle."...

--------------------

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Text of report by Indonesian state-owned TV on 30th October

Pro-Indonesia group makes show of strength in Fakfak, Irian Jaya

The Defenders of the Red and White [Barisan Pembela Merah Putih], BPMP, in
Fakfak District [Irian Jaya] have strongly rejected the results and do not
recognize the legitimacy of the Papua Congress. The group have also rejected
the use of the term 'Papua' in reference to a Papuan nation, but recognise
the term only when used to refer to the Papuan ethnic group within the
Indonesian nation.

[TVRI correspondent] The Defenders of the Red and White in Fakfak District,
which consists of [traditional] royalty, religious and traditional leaders,
youth and community figures, have also stated that efforts by Papua Presidium
officials to promote public awareness of the "real" history of Papua were
illegal. Irian Jaya was an integral part of the Unitary Republic of
Indonesia,
and the results of the Act of Free Choice had been recognised by the United
Nations since 19th November 1969.

Therefore, the BPMP urged the government to take stern action against
separatist acts perpetrated by the Papuan independence movement. The movement
had insulted the existence of the Indonesian government.

The BPMP also called on the government to forbid the raising of the Morning
Star flag in Irian Jaya, particularly in Fakfak District.

----------------

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0500 gmt 31 Oct 00

Separatist leader warns of "new armed struggle"

A West Papua military leader says a new armed struggle will be waged if
Indonesia refuses a dialogue on independence. The commander of the West
Papua Liberation Army, John Koknak, says Indonesia should allow a vote on
self-determination for the 1.8 million people in Irian Jaya.

Mr Koknak is in Canberra, seeking talks with both the Australian government
and opposition. He says the West Papua National Congress has set 1st December
as a deadline for significant progress on a dialogue with Indonesia.

[Koknak] I think the choice is to fight. I would be very, very sorry to see
if the thing is not progressing and we might [be] forced to take up arms
again.

[Note: In a later bulletin (0700 gmt), the radio quoted Koknak as saying
Indonesian special forces troops were involved in a recent "massacre" in the
town of Wamena. While most of those who died were Indonesian transmigrants,
"there was no evidence they had been killed by West Papuans". In remarks
carried by the radio, Koknak said: "I think that is a provocation. Indonesia
uses some sort of tactic to provoke violence, just to discredit us."]

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

___________________________________________________________
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Irian Related Articles (From Tapol)
Date: 11/1/00 8:51:57 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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From: TAPOL

alsol [AAP] Aust must promote West Papuan dialogue

The Jakarta Post.
November 1, 2000
Letter
No signs of decent development

I read the article in The Jakarta Post of Oct. 18, 2000 titled
W. Papua: A self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have recently returned from a visit to West Papua's Baliem
valley -- of which Wamena is the central town. On the last day of
our trekking there, we were surprised when our Kijang had to detour
via a police check. The police were checking driving licenses.

Very early the next day more troops arrived -- judging by the
noise of low-flying aircraft. Our flight was booked that day and we
flew out without mishap.

No West Papuans I spoke to know that raising their flag was
against the law. On the contrary, they were merely proud that they
had been recognized. Most West Papuans are realistic: they
recognize that they are part of Indonesia and that it would be
virtually impossible to become independent. However, they do want
to have a fair deal.

West Papuans are not antimigrants. I got the distinct impression
that West Papuans in Wamena are, in fact, normally extremely
tolerant. Torture used on West Papuans in the past has reputedly
included shaving the tough skin on Papuans' feet and applying hot
irons to them to illicit "confessions". It is therefore no wonder
that Papuans resent the arrival of troops from outside: prior
experience sows they just disrupt an otherwise relatively happy
life.

Any feelings against migrants would, I feel, be caused by anger
fueled by impotence at the arrival of troops. Papuans cannot fight
heavily armed troops. They only have bows and arrows.

Knowing that West Papua benefits the coffers of the central
government to such a large extent (through taxation of Freeport
Indonesia) I was, frankly, appalled at the lack of development.
There are very few decent roads. Other transport systems were old
and poorly maintained; electricity supply was haphazard; provision
of modern tools almost nonexistent; and schools, higher education
facilities and other "signs of development" kept to a bare minimum.

It seems to me that the troops were sent to West Papua to create
trouble -- not to suppress any actual trouble. Any disharmony was
nonexistent before this seemingly high-handed interference by the
central government. There are concrete steps that can be taken --
other than sending in the tough guys -- to create an harmonious
nation.

West Papuans are highly intelligent. They are adjusting quickly
to "life in the 21st Century". Basic education in the 3R's will
help. Missionary schools are available but the government needs to
provide more access to both lower and higher education.

In the other area I visited -- the highlands -- basic education
was present but, far flung. Only older children benefited as they
could walk the distances entailed -- often two hours there and two
hours back. Local schools are still not free. In many areas in West
Papua there is no money. People live by barter trade: trading
baskets etc, for rice. Schools in these far-flung villages must
therefore be subsidized in full by the government and restrictions,
e.g. the need to wear uniforms, lifted. It is far too common for
children not to be educated to even the basic levels because
parents cannot afford the "hidden" costs.

What would also be useful would be affordable (free?) higher
training facilities. A man who had practiced in animal husbandry
for over 20 years had finally completed a recognized degree as a
vet. Until recently he had been unable to obtain any recognized
certification. This sort of certification is valued.

Indonesia must make it a priority to create a climate of hope
by acting in a rational and forward-thinking manner.

The principles of Pancasila are still valid. Adhere to them.

West Papua could be a model of sensitive and sensible
development.

TISHY BRUCE Jakarta

----------------------

AAP NEWSFEED
October 31, 2000
Aust must promote West Papuan dialogue
By Karen Polglaze

CANBERRA, Oct 31 AAP - Australia must actively promote dialogue
between the Indonesian government and pro-independence West Papuans
or risk violence further destabilising the region, a West Papuan
leader said today.

Free Papua Movement (OPM) supreme commander John Koknak, on an
eight-day visit to urge Australia to help foster talks between his
group and Jakarta, warned West Papuans were fed up with waiting for
freedom from Indonesia.

A December 1 deadline for progress towards a peaceful resolution
loomed and Mr Koknak feared the Papuan People's Presidium, of which
the OPM is a part, would not be able to maintain the commitment to
peaceful methods if the deadline was not met.

"Our demand is very clear, we just want independence," Mr Koknak
told a media conference.

"The people of West Papua have no other choice. They're fed up.

"The choice is to fight. I will be very sorry to see it, but if
the thing is not progressing we might be forced to take up arms
again."

Mr Koknak released a three-point peace plan asking Australia and
the United Nations to help, firstly by hosting talks with Jakarta
which would lead to a vote of self-determination by the West
Papuans followed by a transition to independence.

"We want independence, that's all, by peaceful means so that
there's no negative impact on regional stability," he said.

The region has been rocked in recent months by violence in Fiji,
the Solomon Islands and continuing unrest in several Indonesian
provinces.

Mr Koknak said West Papuans were proud their cause had received
international recognition from the recent Pacific Islands Forum.

Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown, who backed the three-point
plan, said Australia could not be neutral on West Papua and must
take on a good neighbour role.

He urged the government and opposition to support dialogue on a
peaceful resolution.

Both Labor and the coalition recognise Indonesian sovereignty
over the resource-rich province, incorporated after a disputed
UN-supervised plebiscite of 1,025 community leaders in 1969.

Incorporation was resisted for more than three decades by
low-level guerrilla warfare carried out by the loosely-coordinated
OPM using traditional weapons such as bows and arrows.

Senator Brown announced he would establish a parliamentarians'
group on West Papua with the first meeting on Thursday.

He believes the issue of independence for the province, which
Indonesia calls Irian Jaya, has the support of ordinary
Australians.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Eco-Friendly Chocolates
Date: 11/1/00 5:52:57 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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(FYI: A possible cash crop for WePa?)
From: webmaster

Wild for Chocolate? Eco-Friendly Crop Grows Best in Rainforest

By Traci Watson
USA Today
October 31, 2000

Forget about lollipops, and don't even think of buying peppermints. As
Halloween draws near, many discerning trick-or-treaters agree there's
only one sweet worth getting: chocolate.

On the brink of one of chocolate's biggest nights of the year,
environmentalists are asking to spare a thought for where this treat
comes from -- the world's tropical forests, where the main ingredient in
chocolate is grown. And a few activists say that what's good for your
sweet tooth can, in some cases, also be good for the rain forest.

''There are two crops that can be grown in harmony with the rain forest:
coffee and chocolate,'' says Chris Wille, a wildlife biologist with the
Rainforest Alliance. Chocolate ''is an ideal crop.''

Not all chocolate consumption helps tropical creatures and their
vanishing habitat. But a new wave of chocolate products that are
relatively environmentally friendly has hit stores. In a few weeks,
farmers should be offering to U.S. buyers the first chocolate certified
as rain forest-friendly.

Whether it's the waxy, drugstore stuff or a boxful of decadent bonbons,
the origin of all chocolate is the stumpy cacao tree. Three to five
years after planting, it produces pods filled with 20 to 40 cocoa beans,
which are processed to yield cocoa powder and chocolate.

The wild cacao tree evolved deep in the rain forest, and domesticated
cacao also prefers to grow in the dimness of a dense jungle. That's
where the Maya, who enjoyed many types of chocolate drinks, raised it
centuries ago.

And that's where it's still raised by a smattering of small growers. On
some farms in places such as Ecuador, villagers tend cacao trees growing
under a canopy of native trees and trees planted for fruit, lumber and
other purposes.

Research shows that at these so-called rustic cocoa farms, especially
those near wild forests, birds and other species thrive alongside the
young chocolate. On a farm in the Mexican state of Chiapas, for example,
scientists from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center found 140 species
of birds, compared with 161 in wild forest.

Environmentalists say farms growing rustic cocoa are far better for
biodiversity than banana plantations or pastures for beef cattle. That
makes rustic cocoa an ideal crop for buffer zones around forests or
wildlife corridors between patches of forest, says John Buchanan of
Conservation International.

What rain forest advocates don't want is more forest chopped down to
feed the world's candy-bar habit, but exactly that is taking place in
countries such as Indonesia, Ecuador, Brazil and Venezuela. Growing
demand is part of the reason, conservationists say.

Also, few farms still raise cocoa in the rustic style. Instead, many
farmers grow cocoa shaded by only one kind of tree, a practice far less
hospitable to wildlife. Or they grow cocoa with no shade at all, which
yields bigger harvests but weaker trees and little shelter for wildlife.

Statistics about the use of each method are rare. But researcher
Francois Ruf, of the Ivory Coast office of the French agricultural
research institute Cirad, estimates that two-thirds or more of Ivory
Coast cocoa is grown without shade. The country, which is in West
Africa, grows roughly 40% of the world supply.

Manufacturers say most of their cocoa is shade-grown and essentially
organic -- grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers -- but
simply isn't labeled as such.

Many rain forest advocates point chocolate aficionados to organic cocoa
products, which are strictly monitored to ensure that they meet
standards for pesticide and fertilizer use.

Five years ago, organic cocoa products were pretty much non-existent,
says Joe Whinney, president of Organic Commodity Products, the biggest
U.S. distributor of organic cocoa. Now specialty markets sell organic
chocolate bars, ice cream laced with organic chocolate and organic
chocolate milk.

Within a few weeks, cocoa certified as rain forest-friendly should be
for sale to U.S. manufacturers. Developed with aid from the Rainforest
Alliance, it was grown by farmers in Ecuador who have pledged not to cut
down mature forest to grow cocoa.

Some environmentalists are hesitant to urge the public to eat even
organic chocolate. They point out that organic cocoa can be grown using
methods that are less than ideal for wildlife.

But others unabashedly say that eating organic chocolate can help the
rain forest. ''Eat more (organic) chocolate, absolutely,'' laughs
ecologist Jeffrey Parrish of the Nature Conservancy, which works with
rustic cocoa farmers in Costa Rica. ''It may not take the calories away,
but you'll definitely feel better about it in the end.''

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Compiled report from TAPOL
Date: 11/1/00 7:01:42 PM Central Standard Time
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From: TAPOL

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

also: Pro-Indonesia group makes show of strength in Fakfak, Irian
Jaya; and Separatist leader warns of "new armed struggle"

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Excerpts from report by Indonesian newspaper 'Suara
Pembaruan' web
site on 30th October; subheading as published

Papua Task Force Declares Level I Alert
evel I Alert

Wamena, 30th October: Coordinating Minister for Socio-Political
Affairs and Security Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the
handling of the 6th October Wamena unrest was extremely well done,
appropriate and relatively speedy. He hoped that other provinces
would learn from experience.

"In the name of the constitution, sovereignty and integrity of the
Unitary Republic of Indonesia, we must take on every task with
determination," the minister said during a visit to Wamena, 30th
October. The minister and entourage were welcomed by the commander
Trikora Military Area Command, Irian Jaya Police chief, governor
and Jayawijaya District officials.

The minister said that social factors, community dynamics and
psychology caused the Wamena incident. In future, the government
would have formulated the right approach, technique and methods for
carrying out such duties of state. The central government hoped
that, in upholding the constitution, violence, casualties and
property damage would be avoided.

The minister also said that the government had resolved that the
Irian Jaya problem should be solved in a truly just, realistic and
permanent manner. He admitted that under the previous government,
many inappropriate things had been done to the Irian Jaya
population. "We want to give them a broader expanse to work in,
both politically, economically, socially, culturally, legally and
in the area of government administration," the minister said...

The minister said that the Papua Presidium Council (PDP) was the
government' partner, whose role was to give the central government
recommendations, suggestions and feedback on the people's
aspirations. This input would be used in formulating the special
autonomy laws...

Meanwhile, the Papua Task Force has indefinitely imposed Level I
Alert status across Irian Jaya from 28th October in response to
President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur)' s latest statement that the
Morning Star flag must be lowered.

In an interview with Pembaruan at the main task force post in
Jayapura,Monday (30th October), Papua Task Force deputy general
commander /Port Numbay (Jayapura) Commandant, Barasano Barasano
said that Papua Task Force troops numbered 22,000 in all, with
4,000 in Port Numbay alone. All had been informed of the Level I
Alert, which was imposed to avoid undesirable consequences stemming
from Gus Dur's order that the Morning Star flag be lowered...

He insisted that the Morning Star represented the self-respect and
essence of the Papua nation, which no one had the right to remove.
He said that lowering the flag required the same process as raising
it, that is a congress attended by all Papuans. The Papuan people
must be gathered together and the question put to them directly: do
you want the flag up or down?

He called on non-Papuans not to be frightened or provoked by
irresponsible statements, which would only destroy the people
themselves. "We the Papua Task Force guarantee the security of all
non-Papuans in Papua, for they too are part of our struggle."...

--------------------

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Text of report by Indonesian state-owned TV on 30th October
Pro-Indonesia group makes show of strength in Fakfak, Irian Jaya

The Defenders of the Red and White [Barisan Pembela Merah Putih],
BPMP, in Fakfak District [Irian Jaya] have strongly rejected the
results and do not recognize the legitimacy of the Papua Congress.
The group have also rejected the use of the term 'Papua' in
reference to a Papuan nation, but recognise the term only when used
to refer to the Papuan ethnic group within the Indonesian nation.

[TVRI correspondent] The Defenders of the Red and White in Fakfak
District, which consists of [traditional] royalty, religious and
traditional leaders, youth and community figures, have also stated
that efforts by Papua Presidium officials to promote public
awareness of the "real" history of Papua were illegal. Irian Jaya
was an integral part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, and the
results of the Act of Free Choice had been recognised by the United
Nations since 19th November 1969.

Therefore, the BPMP urged the government to take stern action
against separatist acts perpetrated by the Papuan independence
movement. The movement had insulted the existence of the Indonesian
government.

The BPMP also called on the government to forbid the raising of the
Morning Star flag in Irian Jaya, particularly in Fakfak District.

----------------

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
Wednesday, November 1, 2000
Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0500 gmt 31 Oct 00
Separatist leader warns of "new armed struggle"

A West Papua military leader says a new armed struggle will be
waged if Indonesia refuses a dialogue on independence. The
commander of the West Papua Liberation Army, John Koknak, says
Indonesia should allow a vote on self-determination for the 1.8
million people in Irian Jaya.

Mr Koknak is in Canberra, seeking talks with both the Australian
government and opposition. He says the West Papua National Congress
has set 1st December as a deadline for significant progress on a
dialogue with Indonesia.

[Koknak] I think the choice is to fight. I would be very, very
sorry to see if the thing is not progressing and we might [be]
forced to take up arms again.

[Note: In a later bulletin (0700 gmt), the radio quoted Koknak as
saying Indonesian special forces troops were involved in a recent
"massacre" in the town of Wamena. While most of those who died were
Indonesian transmigrants, "there was no evidence they had been
killed by West Papuans". In remarks carried by the radio, Koknak
said: "I think that is a provocation. Indonesia uses some sort of
tactic to provoke violence, just to discredit us."]

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: [wp] Appalled at the lack of development in Irian Java; Aust must promote dial
Date: 11/1/00 7:11:44 PM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: tapol@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com, indonesia-act@igc.apc.org
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org

alsol [AAP] Aust must promote West Papuan dialogue

The Jakarta Post.
November 1, 2000

Letter

No signs of decent development

I read the article in The Jakarta Post of Oct. 18, 2000 titled W. Papua: A
self-fulfilling prophecy.

I have recently returned from a visit to West Papua's Baliem valley -- of
which Wamena is the central town. On the last day of our trekking there, we
were surprised when our Kijang had to detour via a police check. The police
were checking driving licenses.

Very early the next day more troops arrived -- judging by the noise of
low-flying aircraft. Our flight was booked that day and we flew out without
mishap.

No West Papuans I spoke to know that raising their flag was against the
law.
On the contrary, they were merely proud that they had been recognized. Most
West Papuans are realistic: they recognize that they are part of Indonesia
and
that it would be virtually impossible to become independent. However, they do
want to have a fair deal.

West Papuans are not antimigrants. I got the distinct impression that West
Papuans in Wamena are, in fact, normally extremely tolerant. Torture used on
West Papuans in the past has reputedly included shaving the tough skin on
Papuans' feet and applying hot irons to them to illicit "confessions". It is
therefore no wonder that Papuans resent the arrival of troops from outside:
prior experience sows they just disrupt an otherwise relatively happy life.

Any feelings against migrants would, I feel, be caused by anger fueled by
impotence at the arrival of troops. Papuans cannot fight heavily armed troops.
They only have bows and arrows.

Knowing that West Papua benefits the coffers of the central government to
such a large extent (through taxation of Freeport Indonesia) I was, frankly,
appalled at the lack of development. There are very few decent roads. Other
transport systems were old and poorly maintained; electricity supply was
haphazard; provision of modern tools almost nonexistent; and schools, higher
education facilities and other "signs of development" kept to a bare minimum.

It seems to me that the troops were sent to West Papua to create trouble --
not to suppress any actual trouble. Any disharmony was nonexistent before this
seemingly high-handed interference by the central government. There are
concrete steps that can be taken -- other than sending in the tough guys --
to create an harmonious nation.

West Papuans are highly intelligent. They are adjusting quickly to "life in
the 21st Century". Basic education in the 3R's will help. Missionary schools
are
available but the government needs to provide more access to both lower and
higher education.

In the other area I visited -- the highlands -- basic education was present
but, far flung. Only older children benefited as they could walk the distances
entailed -- often two hours there and two hours back. Local schools are still
not free. In many areas in West Papua there is no money. People live by barter
trade: trading baskets etc, for rice. Schools in these far-flung villages must
therefore be subsidized in full by the government and restrictions, e.g. the
need to wear uniforms, lifted. It is far too common for children not to be
educated to even the basic levels because parents cannot afford the "hidden"
costs.

What would also be useful would be affordable (free?) higher training
facilities. A man who had practiced in animal husbandry for over 20 years had
finally completed a recognized degree as a vet. Until recently he had been
unable to obtain any recognized certification. This sort of certification is
valued.

Indonesia must make it a priority to create a climate of hope by acting
in
a rational and forward-thinking manner.

The principles of Pancasila are still valid. Adhere to them.

West Papua could be a model of sensitive and sensible development.

TISHY BRUCE Jakarta

----------------------

AAP NEWSFEED
October 31, 2000

Aust must promote West Papuan dialogue

By Karen Polglaze

CANBERRA, Oct 31 AAP - Australia must actively promote dialogue
between the Indonesian government and pro-independence West Papuans
or risk violence further destabilising the region, a West Papuan
leader said today.

Free Papua Movement (OPM) supreme commander John Koknak, on an
eight-day visit to urge Australia to help foster talks between his
group and Jakarta, warned West Papuans were fed up with waiting for
freedom from Indonesia.

A December 1 deadline for progress towards a peaceful resolution
loomed and Mr Koknak feared the Papuan People's Presidium, of which
the OPM is a part, would not be able to maintain the commitment to
peaceful methods if the deadline was not met.

"Our demand is very clear, we just want independence," Mr Koknak
told a media conference.

"The people of West Papua have no other choice. They're fed up.

"The choice is to fight. I will be very sorry to see it, but if
the thing is not progressing we might be forced to take up arms
again."

Mr Koknak released a three-point peace plan asking Australia and
the United Nations to help, firstly by hosting talks with Jakarta
which would lead to a vote of self-determination by the West
Papuans followed by a transition to independence.

"We want independence, that's all, by peaceful means so that
there's no negative impact on regional stability," he said.

The region has been rocked in recent months by violence in Fiji,
the Solomon Islands and continuing unrest in several Indonesian
provinces.

Mr Koknak said West Papuans were proud their cause had received
international recognition from the recent Pacific Islands Forum.

Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown, who backed the three-point
plan, said Australia could not be neutral on West Papua and must
take on a good neighbour role.

He urged the government and opposition to support dialogue on a
peaceful resolution.

Both Labor and the coalition recognise Indonesian sovereignty
over the resource-rich province, incorporated after a disputed
UN-supervised plebiscite of 1,025 community leaders in 1969.

Incorporation was resisted for more than three decades by
low-level guerrilla warfare carried out by the loosely-coordinated
OPM using traditional weapons such as bows and arrows.

Senator Brown announced he would establish a parliamentarians'
group on West Papua with the first meeting on Thursday.

He believes the issue of independence for the province, which
Indonesia calls Irian Jaya, has the support of ordinary
Australians.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Strong quake shakes Wamena
Date: 11/1/00 6:59:59 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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The Jakarta Post.com
Latest News
November 02, 2000
Strong quake shakes Wamena

JAKARTA (JP): An earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale
shook Wamena in Irian Jaya on Wednesday at 6:07 p.m. local time,
Antara reported Thursday.

The quake was centered around 130 kilometers east of the city, the
news agency reported.

Chief of Irian Jaya's Meteorology and Geophysics office, Heri
Saroso, told Antara the quake, whose epicenter was 33 kilometers
under the sea, only affected a few places including Wamena.

There were no immediate reports on the damage or human toll caused
by quake, Antara said.

KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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Subj: [wp] Defiant W.Papua leader orders supporters to ignore police call
Date: 11/1/00 11:32:27 PM Central Standard Time
From: tapol@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
Reply-to: tapol@gn.apc.org
To: WestPapua@topica.com
CC: plovers@gn.apc.org

Received from Joyo Indonesian News

Defiant Papua leader orders supporters to ignore police call

JAKARTA, Nov 1 (AFP) - A pro-independence leader Wednesday ordered his
supporters in Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya to ignore a
police order to vacate a building and lower a separatist flag flown there, a
report said.

Papuan leader, Theys Piyo Eluay, said the Papua Taskforce should maintain its
occupation of the Irian Jaya Cultural Center in downtown Jayapura, the
capital of Irian Jaya, the state Antara news agency reported.

The building has been appropriated by the taskforce as its headquarters since
June.

He also told some 100 members of the taskforce, a pro-independence civilian
guard, to keep the "Morning Star" separatist flag flying there until an
agreement is reached over its lowering in negotiations with the local
authorities.

After issuing his orders, Eluay, who heads the presidium of the
pro-independence Papua Council, went into negotiations with government
officials, police and military in Irian Jaya.

Eluay's order came after Jayapura Police Chief Superintendent Daud Sihombing
on Monday ordered the Papua Taskforce to disband and vacate the building and
to lower the Morning Star flying there.

"The governor has ordered the Satgas Papua (Papua Taskforce) to desert the
... building so that it can re-function as the government building it is,"
Irian Jaya police spokesman Major Zulkifli told AFP by phone.

Zulkifli said Jayapura city police had issued the order at the request of
acting governor Musiran Darmosuwito, and that the deadline for it to come
down was Thursday.

Sihombing had earlier given Wednesday as a deadline for his order.

The Papua Taskforce last month declared they were ready to die in defence of
the flag, and warned that any casualties among Irian Jaya's settler
population would be "the responsibility of police."

Attempts by police to forcibly remove the Morning Star flag from the
hinterland town of Wamena on October 6 sparked riots that killed 31 people,
mostly migrant settlers.

The central government reacted by declaring a full ban on the flag, and
police set a staggered series of deadlines for its removal, starting with the
provincial capital Jayapura on October 19. But the Morning Star has continued
to fly in two places in Jayapura, at the Cultural Center and at Eluay's home.

When it announced the ban, the Indonesian cabinet said the flag had become a
symbol of separatism.

Wahid first authorised the flying of the Morning Star flag in December last
year, on the condition it flew alongside and beneath Indonesia's national
flag.

Papuans have made increasingly vociferous calls for independence in recent
years, climaxing with a mass congress in June at which they demanded Jakarta
recognise they had been independent since December 1961.

Independence leaders say a UN-conducted "act of free choice" in 1969, which
led to the former Dutch territory becoming part of Indonesia, was
unrepresentative.

Wahid has pledged not to tolerate separatism in the province, promising broad
autonomy instead by the end of the year.

Irian Jaya's 2.5 million people are mainly Melanesian Christians.

TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign
111 Northwood Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon CR7 8HW, UK.
tel +44 020 8771 2904 fax +44 020 8653 0322
tapol@gn.apc.org www.gn.apc.org/tapol

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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Jose Ramos-Horta calls for support of Wahid
Date: 11/1/00 8:53:43 PM Central Standard Time
From: admin@irja.org
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Nov 2 2000

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20001101/wl/us_indonesia_2.html

By HARRY DUNPHY, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta expressed hope
Wednesday that Indonesia's government does not implode and its
President Abdurrahman Wahid reaches autonomy agreements with
separatists in two regions seeking independence.

But Wahid, a democratic reformer elected last fall, often is
undermined by Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri and powerful
enemies in the army opposed to any autonomy deal, Ramos-Horta said.

He said some elements in the army also were bent on stopping Wahid's
attempts to consolidate democracy in the world's fourth most populous
nation. He said Wahid, a half-blind Muslim cleric, had received a lot
of unfair criticism.

Ramos-Horta urged the separatists in Acheh and Irian Jaya province to
``walk halfway, seize the olive branch that is being offered (by
Wahid) and strike the best possible deal for autonomy now.''

Ramos-Horta was sworn in last month as foreign minister in an advisory
cabinet set up by East Timor (news - web sites)'s U.N. administration.
Indonesia rule in the former Portuguese colony ended last year in a
wave of militia violence and devastation last year. Elections for its
first independent government are expected by the end of 2001.

Giving the World Press Freedom Committee's 14th annual Harold Andersen
Lecture, Ramos-Horta said he hoped Wahid ``could avoid what happened
in East Timor and keep the country together.''

He said Indonesia could go two ways - slide further into anarchy and
become ungovernable or endure a ``passing situation of instability
that lasts months but is manageable.''

Ramos-Horta said the United States, Australia and all of Indonesia's
Asian neighbors do not want to see the country disintegrate.

He praised the U.S. Ambassador in Jakarta, Robert Gelbard, for
speaking frankly to Indonesia officials. Some of them have called
Gelbard a meddler and want him withdrawn.

Ramos-Horta, who was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in 1996 for
pushing East Timor's cause, said he planned to remain in the advisory
cabinet for a few months. His main objective, he said, is to establish
a free press and broadcasting in East Timor.

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IRIAN JAYA (WEST PAPUA, NEW GUINEA): THE QUEST FOR INDEPENDENCE-NOVEMBER 1, 2000 TO ----------------------------

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