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Subj: IO: Wahid uncertain whether to attend Papua congress
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Subj: RT: Megawati and 12 ministers to visit separatist Irian next week
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Subj: Freeport still searching for missing people
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Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN]Veep, 12 Ministers To Visit Irian Jaya
=======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Various articles: Freeport, Mining, accidents
=======================================================
Subj: KABAR-IRIAN: [EN] Jailed activist 'followed the flow'
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Date: 5/13/00 6:35:46 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: indonesia-act@igc.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk, andy@sumner93.freeserve.co.uk, robinr@quaker.org.uk, jonathan.head@bbc.co.uk, reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
[Joyo has no idea if symbols embedded in Indon Ob articles will appear after
sending this, as they are not visible in the text prior to sending.]
Indonesian Observer
11st May 2000
Wahid uncertain whether to attend Papua congress
JAKARTA (IO) — President Abdurrahman Wahid yesterday said he is yet to
decide
whether to attend an upcoming congress of the Free Papua Movement (OPM)
separatist group, as his attendance could spark controversy.
"Intelligence and government officials have asked me not to attend the
congress, because my presence would mean recognition of the organization,"
the president was quoted as saying by Antara in Bangkok.
He said the OPM is keen on seeing him attend the congress to show that he is
a true democrat. "I have yet to decide on this," he added.
Earlier this year, Wahid told the rebels in Irian Jaya (Papua) he would open
their congress. He said they are welcome to discuss separatism and
independence, but must not undertake any physical actions that could threaten
national unity.
The president has also apologized for military atrocities in the nation's
easternmost province.
Indonesia occupied West Papua, a Dutch colony, in 1963. The region was
renamed Irian Jaya and Indonesian sovereignty was formalized in 1969
following a dubious vote organized by the United Nations.
Secret US government documents at the time showed that UN officials in West
Papua believed 95% of the local population wanted independence, and "the Act
of Free Choice is a mockery".
In the act, 1,025 Papuans, selected by Indonesia, voted on behalf of the
territory's 800,000 people. Western nations knew the vote was unfair but did
nothing about it.
In recent years, one of the main complaints of the separatists has been the
rapid transmigration of people from other Indonesian islands coming to Irian
Jaya and depriving the indigenous population of work and education
opportunities.
Until mid-1998, the Indonesian military ran the province using repressive
tactics. Thousands of locals were reportedly killed and tortured during a
series of anti-insurgency operations. In 1998, the government abolished the
state of emergency and repression eased. But independence activists have been
emboldened by the 1999 secession of East Timor and protests have mounted.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
Date: 5/12/00 3:14:07 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Indonesia's Megawati to visit separatist Irian
JAKARTA, May 11 (Reuters) - Indonesian Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri
will visit Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya next week in a bid
to ease separatist calls there, the official news agency Antara said on
Thursday.
``As we all know, in Irian there is a separatist movement... this visit is to
deliver a strong commitment by the central government for the development of
Irian,'' Antara quoted top security minister Surjadi Sudirja saying.
Megawati will be joined by 12 ministers and armed forces chief Admiral Widodo
on the six-day visit from Tuesday.
A small band of guerrillas is fighting Indonesian rule of the western half of
the vast New Guinea island and support for independence is strong among many
people there.
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
Date: 5/12/00 3:42:08 AM Central Daylight Time
From: plovers@gn.apc.org (Tapol)
To: reg.westpapua@gn.apc.org, u.braun@xcc.de, slliem@xs4all.nl, taylorjb@vax.sbu.ac.uk
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Jakarta Post
May 12, 2000
Freeport still searching for missing people
JAKARTA (JP): A rescue team has yet to find the bodies of four people
reported missing after the Wanagon basin collapsed last week, a company
official said here on Thursday.
"We cannot say if they were killed in the incident, and our rescue team,
supported by local police officers, is still searching for them," Mindo
Pangaribuan, manager of External Communications, said.
He stated that the rescue team had located camps, bags and other items
believed to belong to the four.
Mindo identified them as Conny Maay, 43, Dace Adera, 25, Yepta Purai, 30 and
Marthin Palamba.
They are employees of PT Graha Buana Jaya, contractor to PT Freeport
Indonesia.
"Appropriate steps, including contacting the relatives and families of the
missing employees, have been taken by the contractor and Freeport, Mindo
said, adding that Dace and Yepta came from southeast Maluku, Marthin from
Toraja, South Sulawesi, and Conny from Serui, Irian.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives called on all parties, especially the
Papuan people, to be patient while a government team looks into the incident.
"Various statements on actions to be taken against the company are not
necessary," M. Yamin, deputy chairman of the House's Commission on industry
and trade, said Thursday.
He said his commission would hold an intensive discussion with the government
and Freeport's management and make a fair evaluation of the company's
performance.
According to the Commission, Freeport's newly extended contract could be
revised if the new company is found guilty and if its presence in Papua does
not benefit the locals.
In Jayapura, the provincial council said on Tuesday that Freeport must be
held responsible for the Wanagon incident.
"The company must be held accountable for the destruction of the environment
as well as disturbances experienced by the local Amungme tribe living in the
vicinity," councillor Anton Kelanangame said.
The council will send a team of three legislators to investigate the case as
well as gather information from locals, he said.
Locals have long protested against waste dumping in the river which has
caused flooding, he said. "But their complaints have been ignored."
Three people were admitted to the clinic at the Freeport compound. They were
Sulaeman Mochtar, 21, Yanto Metubun, 35, and Yoas Lepong Bulan, 21.
Locals of the Amungme tribe also strongly called on the company to be
responsible for the damage caused by the waste dumping in the Wanagon basin.
"Because of the dumping, the Wanagon lake has reached it capacity and this is
why flooding occurs." (eba/edt/rms/sur)
**************************************************
Paul Barber
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign,
25 Plovers Way, Alton Hampshire GU34 2JJ
Tel/Fax: 01420 80153
Email: plovers@gn.apc.org
Internet: www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Defending victims of oppression in Indonesia and
East Timor, 1973-2000
**************************************************
Date: 5/12/00 9:43:29 AM Central Daylight Time
From: admin@irja.org
Sender: owner-kabar-irian@irja.org
Reply-to: admin@irja.org
Too much mail? Try our digest version. Info available at
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________________________________________________________________________
National News
Veep, 12 Ministers To Visit Irian Jaya
Thursday, May 11, 2000/5:19:18 PM
Jakarta, May 11 (ANTARA)
Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, along with 12 ministers and
the Indonesian Defense Force chief, will pay a week-long visit to
the country=92s easternmost province of Irian Jaya starting May 16.
"The visit is a get-together between national leaders and the Irian
Jaya community. Besides, the vice president will take the chance to
assure the Irian Jaya community of the central government=92s strong
commitment to the development of the province," Coordinating
Minister for Political and Security Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja said
here Thursday.
As part of preparations for the visit, Megawati on Wednesday morning
led a special session at her office to discuss the planned visit.
While in Irian Jaya, she will visit 10 districts.
The visit aims to maintain and promote approaches and communication
with Irian Jaya in favor of national integrity, Surjadi said.
"As we know there is kind of (separatist) movement in Irian Jaya
which is seeking to form a Free Papua state," Surjadi said.
The government contends that the movement is not against the law so
long as it serves as a means to express opinions or aspirations,
Surjadi said.
"But if they take concrete steps to form a state, they must
certainly face us," he said.
In solving the issue on Irian Jaya, the government continues to give
priority to dialogs over repressive approaches, he said in a press
conference also attended by Coordinating Minister for People=92s
Welfare Basri Hasanuddin and acting Irian Jaya Governor Musiran D.
According to Surjadi, Megawati=92s planned visit to Irian Jaya will
not replace President Abdurrahman Wahid=92s.
When exactly the president will visit Irian Jaya is still unknown,
he said.
"The president=92s visit to Irian Jaya very much depends on
developments (in the country) and his agenda. For sure, the vice
president=92s visit will not replace the president=92s," he said
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
NOTE: "All items are posted for their news/information content. They are
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Date: 5/12/00 9:51:11 AM Central Daylight Time
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________________________________________________________________________
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
ANALYSIS-Risk of Freeport Indonesia mine suspension low
By Andrew Marshall
JAKARTA, May 11 (Reuters)
Jakarta's warning that production may be suspended at Freeport's
Grasberg mine is not a serious threat but rather the latest gambit
in a high-stakes poker game over dividing the spoils from the
lucrative mine.
Both Jakarta and Freeport have too much to lose from halting
production at the vast copper and gold mine for this to be a real
risk.
But an accident last week at Grasberg which left four workers
missing and presumed dead has given Indonesia's government a
stronger hand in its bid to wring concessions out of Freeport.
=93The reality is that Indonesia needs Freeport. It is its largest
taxpayer,=94 said David Rubin, resources analyst at Nomura in Jakarta.
=93And in particular, Irian Jaya needs Freeport.=94
A pile of waste rock near the mine collapsed last week, causing an
adjoining water basin to overflow and send a wave of water flooding
into the valley. Four workers were swept away.
Environment Minister Soni Keraf said on Wednesday production at
Grasberg, deep in the remote province of Irian Jaya in the shadow of
Southeast Asia's highest mountain, may be suspended if an
investigation found the accident caused environmental damage.
Grasberg, among the world's largest copper and gold mines, is
majority-owned by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. The Indonesian
government and Rio Tinto also hold stakes. The company employs
16,000 people in Indonesia.
Suspending production would have a dramatic affect on metals
markets -- Freeport said last month it expected sales from Indonesia
to reach around 1.4 billion pounds of copper and 1.9 million ounces
of gold this year.
A Focus Of Controversy
The mine has been a focus of controversy for years.
Some legislators say Freeport's contract of work, last renewed in
1991 during the rule of disgraced former President Suharto, is not
favourable enough to Indonesia, and want the country to be granted a
greater share of royalties from the mine.
Freeport-McMoRan Chief Executive James Moffett was questioned in
Indonesia in 1998 over allegations that corruption helped smooth the
contract's renewal. Freeport denied any wrongdoing.
Activists in Irian Jaya, one of Indonesia's separatist hotspots,
accuse Freeport of environmental damage, exploitation, and cultural
insensitivity. Freeport insists it maintains the highest
environmental and safety standards and that it respects and has
helped preserve the local culture.
Amid mounting demands from Indonesia's resource-rich provinces for a
greater share of their natural wealth, Irian Jaya's provincial
government has demanded a stake in the mine.
A protest by Irianese activists forced Freeport Indonesia to
temporarily close its Jakarta headquarters this week.
Amid the controversy, Freeport's shares have fallen from above $21
at the start of 2000 to $10-13/16 at Wednesday's Wall Street close.
But although Keraf is a former environmental activist and has taken
a hard line on Freeport, President Abdurrahman Wahid would not
countenance closing the mine, analysts say.
The government does, however, want to see Freeport share more of its
wealth to help defuse separatist pressure in Irian Jaya as well as
shore-up the central government's hard-pressed coffers.
And after last week's accident, it has a new bargaining chip.
A Complicated Game
=93There is a complicated game going on in terms of Freeport,=94 said a
mining analyst at an international brokerage in Jakarta, adding
neither the central nor the provincial government genuinely wanted
to see production suspended.
=93There's obviously a negotiation going on, but I don't think either
of those parties want to close the mine down. After all, you don't
get royalties from a mine that isn't producing.=94
Analysts do not rule out a brief suspension of production if
Indonesia decides to really turn the screws on Freeport. But a more
likely outcome, better for both sides, is a quiet deal which wrings
fresh concessions from Freeport.
=93I don't expect the contract of work to be renegotiated, but you
could well see some kind of deal done,=94 said a Jakarta-based mining
consultant. =93It seems inevitable, given the pressures of regional
demands for autonomy and resources.=94
Indonesia is also likely to aim for more environmental pledges,
which will help placate restive Irian Jaya.
Freeport Indonesia says the accident, which involved the collapse of
a rock waste containment area, was not its fault and was caused by
heavy rains.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Jakarta Post.com
National News
May 12, 2000
Freeport still searching for missing people
JAKARTA (JP): A rescue team has yet to find the bodies of four
people reported missing after the Wanagon basin collapsed last week,
a company official said here on Thursday.
"We cannot say if they were killed in the incident, and our rescue
team, supported by local police officers, is still searching for
them," Mindo Pangaribuan, manager of External Communications, said.
He stated that the rescue team had located camps, bags and other
items believed to belong to the four.
Mindo identified them as Conny Maay, 43, Dace Adera, 25, Yepta
Purai, 30 and Marthin Palamba.
They are employees of PT Graha Buana Jaya, contractor to PT Freeport
Indonesia.
"Appropriate steps, including contacting the relatives and families
of the missing employees, have been taken by the contractor and
Freeport, Mindo said, adding that Dace and Yepta came from southeast
Maluku, Marthin from Toraja, South Sulawesi, and Conny from Serui,
Irian.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives called on all parties,
especially the Papuan people, to be patient while a government team
looks into the incident.
"Various statements on actions to be taken against the company are
not necessary," M. Yamin, deputy chairman of the House's Commission
on industry and trade, said Thursday.
He said his commission would hold an intensive discussion with the
government and Freeport's management and make a fair evaluation of
the company's performance.
According to the Commission, Freeport's newly extended contract
could be revised if the new company is found guilty and if its
presence in Papua does not benefit the locals.
In Jayapura, the provincial council said on Tuesday that Freeport
must be held responsible for the Wanagon incident.
"The company must be held accountable for the destruction of the
environment as well as disturbances experienced by the local Amungme
tribe living in the vicinity," councillor Anton Kelanangame said.
The council will send a team of three legislators to investigate the
case as well as gather information from locals, he said.
Locals have long protested against waste dumping in the river which
has caused flooding, he said. "But their complaints have been
ignored."
Three people were admitted to the clinic at the Freeport compound.
They were Sulaeman Mochtar, 21, Yanto Metubun, 35, and Yoas Lepong
Bulan, 21.
Locals of the Amungme tribe also strongly called on the company to
be responsible for the damage caused by the waste dumping in the
Wanagon basin.
"Because of the dumping, the Wanagon lake has reached it capacity
and this is why flooding occurs." (eba/edt/rms/sur)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
Freeport Ready To Face Lawsuit Over Wanagon Incident =96 Director
Thursday, May 11, 2000/4:18:51 PM
New York, May 11 (ANTARA)
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold has expressed its readiness to face a
lawsuit which Indonesia could file over the recent landslide that
killed four people in the company=92s mining site in Irian Jaya.
"Yes, we are ready," Freeport McMoRan=92s communications director,
Bill Collier, told ANTARA here Wednesday on the possibility of a
lawsuit being filed by Indonesian parties over the incident.
Collier said he was very upset with the incident but noted that it
is too early to draw conclusions as investigation is underway.
He said the company has invited mining consultants to look into the
incident and they are still in the location to evaluate what had
happened.
"A team set up by the Indonesian government is also there for a
similar activity," he said.
He further said that the company will cooperate with the Indonesian
government by providing the necessary data for the investigation
being carried out by a team from the Ministry of Mines and Energy,
the Indonesian Environmental Management Board (Bapedal), and the
office of the state minister for environment.
The Indonesian government sent a nine-member joint team to the site
of the landslide, consisting of four officials from the ministry=92s
directorate general for general mining and five officials from the
Bapedal.
The team is expected to establish the cause of the landslide.
"Of course, from the beginning we have cooperated with the
representatives of the Mining and Energy (Ministry) and the Bapedal
as well, and we will always do. We will give our full support and
information as well as any assistance they need," Collier said.
Asked to explain how the incident happened according to Freeport=92s
point of view, he said the evaluation is still going on and its too
early to explain it.
"We are still looking for the four missing people who might have
died just now. We are very upset over the incident," he said.
Freeport said last Friday (May 5) there was a landslide in Lake
Wanagon late Thursday, sparked by heavy rains that caused an
overflow of water in its mines.
Meanwhile, a statement from the Indonesian Forum for Environment
(Walhi) said at least nine local people were killed in the
landslide.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National News
Suspending Freeport=92s Operations Would Have Negative Impact On
14,000
Employees - Director
Thursday, May 11, 2000/1:23:36 PM
New York, May 11 (ANTARA)
Suspending PT Freeport Indonesia=92s operations would certainly have a
negative impact on the company=92s 14,000 employees, communications
director of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc, Bill Collier, has
said.
In an interview with ANTARA here Wednesday, Collier said it is
equally important to point out that direct payments to the
Indonesian government under the current contract of work, which
began in 1992, have averaged US$ 177 million a year, or a total of
US$ 1.418 billion for an eight-year period.
"These payments, in the form of taxes, royalties and dividends,
would also be curtailed in the event of mine closure," he said.
The following is the complete interview with Collier:
Question: The Indonesian government might order PT Freeport
Indonesia to suspend production at its Grasberg copper and gold mine
while it investigates an accident in Lake Wanagon. How would you
respond to or comment on this matter?
Answer: We have brought in leading geotechnical consultants from
around the world to assess the situation. They are still at (the)
site evaluating what (had) happened. The government=92s team is also
still at (the) site conducting their evaluation. It is too soon to
draw any conclusion. We have seen the speculation about a possible
suspension of operations. We have already suspended operations in
the area of the accident. However, we stress that curtailing mining
and milling operations which are conducted in another area will not
improve this situation or the evaluations that are underway.
Suspending operations would certainly have a negative impact to the
14,000 employees at the mine operation.
Q: Is the production at Grasberg still going on and has there been
no disruption? At least for the time being?
A: Yes, production has not been affected.
Q: How much would it cost if PT Freeport Indonesia is suspended for
a day or a week?
A: Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc=92s net income for 1999 was US$
100 million. However, this includes revenues from other operations,
such as PT Smelting at Gresik, and Atlantic Copper=92s Smelting in
Gresik, East Java and Atlantic Copper Inc in Spain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Freeport unaware of Irian mining halt plan
NEW ORLEANS, May 10 (Reuters)
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. said on Wednesday Indonesia's
government had not told the company directly that it might suspend
production at the Grasberg copper and gold mine in Irian Jaya after
an accident last week which left four workers missing and presumed
dead.
Company spokesman Bill Collier told Reuters he was aware of reports
that Indonesian Environment Minister Soni Keraf had said suspension
was possible but Collier said government officials had not made any
such suggestion to the company directly.
=93We saw the speculation about a possible suspension of operations
and I would emphasise that curtailing mining and milling will not
improve the situation with regard to the accident and the
assessments that are under way,=94 Collier said.
Grasberg, majority-owned by Freeport McMoRan, is one of the world's
biggest copper and gold mines. Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio
Tinto Plc also holds a stake.
Collier said Freeport McMoRan and the Indonesian government were
investigating the accident to determine how it had happened and what
remedial action could be taken.
The four workers have been missing since a pile of waste rock from
the mine collapsed last Thursday after heavy rains. Collier said the
pile of waste rock was situated far away from the main mining and
milling operations.
Collier described the accident as =93tragic and very regrettable=94 and
said efforts were continuing to recover the bodies of the workers
who were presumed to have perished.
The company recently projected that the mine would produce 1.4
billion pounds of copper and 1.9 million ounces of gold this year.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Received from Joyo Indonesian News
Rio Tinto's human rights record attacked at AGM
By Sudip Kar-Gupta
LONDON, May 10 (Reuters)
Human rights activists attacked the record of the world's biggest
mining group, Rio Tinto Plc, on Wednesday, demanding changes at the
company's annual general meeting.
Shareholders supporting their approach questioned the
Anglo-Australian group's ethical policies, amid controversy over an
accident at an Indonesian mine last week which left four workers
missing and presumed dead.
The meeting considered two union-backed resolutions that called for
Rio to adopt the International Labour Organisation's (ILO)
conventions on human rights at work, and also to adopt an
independent, non-executive deputy chairman to make its board more
accountable to shareholders.
The biggest investor to back the calls is the Co-operative Insurance
Society, which has more than 23 billion pounds ($35.09 billion)
under management and is a major shareholder.
The AGM onslaught came the day after Indonesia said it may suspend
production at the vast Grasberg copper and gold mine, in which Rio
has a stake, following the fatal accident.
=93When will Rio take action, why has it taken so long and why has it
taken four deaths?=94 asked Richard Solly, a member of the Partizan
(People Against Rio Tinto And Its Subsidiaries) pressure group.
Tony Maher, president of the National Miners' Union of Australia,
said Rio had to improve the way it treated its workers.
=93We think Rio Tinto has to lift its game rather dramatically over
how it treats its employees,=94 said Maher, accusing the firm of
discriminating against Australian employees who chose to join a
labour union.
Senzeni Zokwana, president of the South African National Union of
Mineworkers, joined Maher in asking for better employment practices
from Rio.
=93Is it really so much to ask? Is it really too much to achieve?=94
said Zokwana, receiving a vigorous round of applause from
shareholders at the end of his speech.
Rio Chairman Defends His Firm
Rio Chairman Robert Wilson robustly defended his firm's working
practices, urging the shareholders to reject both dissident motions.
Wilson, whose firm boosted profits 16 percent in 1999, said the
company supported numerous international conventions for best labour
practices, adding that all Rio employees were free to choose over
joining a labour union and whether or not they wanted to bargain
collectively.
Referring to the incident at Grasberg, Wilson said the mine's
environmental standards had been the subject of a =93comprehensive
review.=94
Wilson also maintained that Rio already had an independent,
non-executive deputy chairman in the shape of Richard Giordano.
However, some shareholders felt that Giordano lacked any real power
on the board.
The results of voting on the two activist resolutions will only be
announced after Rio holds a parallel meeting in Australia on May 24.
It is the latest example of pressure groups working with investors
to push for change at the annual meetings of big business.
Last month, environmental group Greenpeace claimed a moral victory
over oil group BP Amoco Plc, persuading a large minority of
shareholders to back its call for the company to stop drilling in
the Arctic.
($1-.6555 Pound)
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
NOTE: "All items are posted for their news/information content. They are
not necessarily the views of IRJA.org or subscribers. "
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Date: 5/12/00 9:43:34 AM Central Daylight Time
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The AGE (Melbourne)
Thursday 11 May 2000
Jailed activist 'followed the flow'
By Dennis Schulz, Darwin
As Saul Dalton was attempting to leave West Irian last year, he was
apprehended carrying anti-Indonesian documents and a machete knife
in his baggage.
Convicted of visa violations, he served four months' prison in
Timika and later in the capital of Jayapura.
Mr Dalton, originally from Rockhampton, admits to his own naivete.
While in Timika he accepted letters from pro-independence Irianese,
promising them he would post them in Australia. One letter was found
to contain hand-drawn maps addressed to the Australian Defence Force
highlighting landing areas for a potential Australian invasion of
Irian Jaya.
To Indonesian authorities, they were documents that violated the
provisions of Mr Dalton's visa.
"I didn't do my research to find out that there were clauses (in my
cultural visa) that say you're not allowed to involve yourself in
anything political," Mr Dalton said yesterday in Darwin.
However, he maintains that while in Irian Jaya he never participated
in pro-independence activities.
That is a view questioned by freelance journalist Andrew Kilvert,
whose Papuan sources reported that Mr Dalton's indiscreet manner had
endangered locals involved in the independence movement.
"Local people warned him about his behavior," Mr Kilvert said.
A veteran of the Jabiluka protests in the Northern Territory, Mr
Dalton elected to go to East Timor as a volunteer with the
International Federation for East Timor, whose members acted as
observers during the independence referendum.
But Mr Dalton missed the referendum. Upon his arrival in the West
Timor capital of Kupang he found out that IFET was already pulling
out of East Timor. He then decided to visit West Irian, buying a
ticket on the ferry.
When he reached Jayapura, Mr Dalton set out for the highlands,
flying to the highland village of Wilmena without obtaining a permit
from local Indonesian authorities. There, he was asked to post
letters in Australia for Irianese.
Mr Dalton was later arrested in Timika and interrogated, the police
accusing him of spying.
He was tried in a court action taking 10 weeks, his mother incurring
costs of more than $10,000 in legal fees. He was sentenced to four
months' jail, minus the time already detained, and moved to Jayapura
to serve out his sentence.
However, the jails were similar to holiday villas that allowed him
to move about outside. He often visited local markets and
restaurants.
Released in February, Mr Dalton still believes he was a victim of
circumstance. "To me, I really hadn't done anything wrong," he said.
"I just went with the currents and followed the flow."
KABAR IRIAN ("Irian News") www.kabar-irian.com
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