Paras Indonesia, March, 20 2006 @ 08:31 am
Minster Says Papua Killings Engineered For Independence Bid
By: Roy Tupai
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono claims the recent killing in Papua of three
policemen and an Air Force officer by protesters demanding the closure of US gold
and copper mining giant Freeport McMoRan's Grasberg mine was part of a calculated
effort to win independence for the province.
Juwono on Monday (20/3/06) said the clash that took place on March 16 during an
anti-Freeport demonstration outside Cendrawasih University in the Abepura area of the
provincial capital Jayapura was designed to spark a massacre that would put the
province's problems under the international spotlight.
"There were certain parties that wanted the security forces to commit human right
abuses in the Abepura incident so that Papua problem could become an international
issue," he was quoted as saying by state news agency Antara.
Speaking reporters before attending a limited cabinet meeting at the presidential
office, he said the protesters had also sought to damage Indonesia's image and
economy.
About 150 demonstrators, including students and pro-independence activists, had for
two days blockaded the road outside the university to demand the closure of the
Grasberg mine and the withdrawal of Indonesian soldiers and police from Papua.
Security forces attempted to forcibly end the rally but they were heavily outnumbered.
Several of the protesters then grabbed the three policemen and Air Force officer, who
were led away and bashed, stabbed and stoned to death.
Pro-independence activists have claimed the violence was started by undercover
intelligence officers who had infiltrated the protest. But Juwono was adamant that the
protesters had made advance preparations for bloodshed, as they had brought
machetes, knives and stones with them. He said an ongoing investigation into the
incident had found proof that "certain parties" wanted the protest to end in a
bloodbath. "It would not have occurred if there had been no careful preparations
beforehand from the stones to weapons. Their aim was very clear," he said.
Dili Massacre II?
The minister likened the violence to the November 1991 massacre of 271 youths at
the Santa Cruz cemetery in Dili, East Timor. The slaughter resulted in widespread
international condemnation of the Indonesian military's brutal occupation of East
Timor. The territory eventually gained independence after a 1999 referendum that was
surrounded by more killing sprees orchestrated by Indonesian troops.
"It's true. At first it was going to be made into something like Santa Cruz," Juwono
was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press.
He also claimed that foreign parties might have played a hand in the violence but
stopped short of naming any countries or organizations. "There was an internal or a
foreign side that was involved in the engineering what happened there," he was quoted
as saying by detikcom online news portal.
The minister expressed hope that the investigation into the killings would be
concluded as quickly as possible to reveal all of the facts behind the incident.
He declined to speculate on whether members of the political and military elite
opposed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono might have pulled the strings
behind the killings. But he said security agencies were now investigating why
problems often arose over the operations of American firms such as Freeport
Indonesia, Newmont and ExxonMobil.
"We are trying to find out whether the various actions against the US companies were
solidly organized. We want carefully examine why they are now happening together.
Whoever is the mastermind, he will be dealt with by the law, regardless of his past
rank or position," he said.
"Who knows whether later a problem will also emerge in relation to the US investment
in the Natunas," he added, referring to an offshore oil and gas reserve.
Juwono could not promise that results of the investigation would be made public.
"That remains to be seen. For the moment it's in the hands of the National Police
chief because everything must be processed in accordance with the president's
desire," he said.
Suspects
Following last Thursday's killings, police rounded up more than 70 Papuans, mostly
students and activists, for questioning. Locals complained that police raids on student
dormitories and houses were arbitrary and involved excessive force. Police have since
named 14 suspects.
State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar on Monday said investigations
by his men had shown that local non-government organizations (NGOs) backed by
foreign groups were involved in the incident. "There were several NGOs with overseas'
ties that took part in sponsoring the incident," he was quoted as saying by Antara.
Asked whether local public figures or former officials might have had a hand in the
incident, he said: "Whoever, or of whatever rank or position he or she is, if they are
proven to be guilty, they will be processed before the law."
Police have been strongly criticized for attacking journalists covering last week's
clash, but it appears the errant officers will not face any disciplinary action.
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