The Australian, February 08, 2003
Moresby fears JI incursion
By Paul Toohey
PAPUA New Guinea's leadership believes terrorist groups associated with the Bali
bombing are active across its border with West Papua, and Port Moresby fears its
territory could be used to "get at " Australia.
Prime Minister Michael Somare's special adviser, Stephen Pokawin, said it was
accepted wisdom within PNG that Laskar Jihad, a group believed to operate as "foot
soldiers" of Jemaah Islamiah, was operational in the Indonesian province.
"It is a concern of possible incursions of groups whose interests are not ours," said
Mr Pokawin.
"I hope PNG would not be used to get at Australia. I hope the Australian interests
here will not be targeted. But we can't guarantee that."
The West Papuan independence movement says it has tried to warn the federal
Government that JI and Laskar Jihad have a firm footing in West Papua, but claims
John Howard and Alexander Downer have repeatedly refused to discuss the matter.
Franz Albert Joku, international spokesman for the Papua Council Presidium, the
diplomatic offshoot of the Free Papua Movement, says he gets a better hearing from
senior policy advisers in Washington.
"The Americans are not telling us they support us to be independent, but they are
now talking to us at a very high level," said Mr Joku. "If I go to Canberra, I can wait
months to see someone. Even then, I'd be lucky to see the Opposition Leader's
spokesperson."
A December report in Port Moresby's Independent newspaper claimed 200 men were
in terrorist training "in a jungle hide-out" at Ipargunum, on the outskirts of the West
Papuan provincial capital Jayapura, close to the PNG border.
Mr Joku alleges Ipargunum is not a terrorist hide-out as such but rather an Indonesian
military base hosting terrorist destabilisation.
Australia refuses to recognise West Papuan claims for independence. So does PNG,
but Port Moresby human rights lawyer Power Parkop said the Government was
distressed about what was happening to Melanesians across the border.
"I've seen a (PNG) foreign affairs report about Laskar Jihad moving into West Papua
through Sorong," said Mr Parkop. "My view is that Laskar Jihad is just an extension of
the military.
"It is trying to provoke problems for the new (Indonesian) Government."
Mr Joku said: "It is slowly beginning to dawn on Indonesia watchers and concerned
governments in PNG and elsewhere that there is a very thin line separating the official
military establishment from Jemaah Islamiah or Laskar Jihad.
"Given the concerns, I think Mr Howard will find it difficult to sleep at night. Australia
and Port Moresby are within reach."
© The Australian
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