National

President Wants No Civilian Victims in Military Operation in Papua
Friday, 05 November, 2004 | 19:22 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:In his instructions to Coordinating Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has demanded that there be no civilian victims in the security recovery operation in the Puncak Jaya area of Papua. The president also demanded that the operation be carried out properly and carefully.

“Don’t let the local people get any negative impacts from the operation,” said former Irian Jaya governor Barnabas Suebu quoting the president’s instructions in Jakarta on Thursday (04/11).

On October 12, six drivers who usually worked on the Wamena Mulia Trans route in Puncak Jaya were shot by an unidentified armed group.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) has accused the Free Papua Movement (OPM) of being behind this incident.

According to Suebu, it will be difficult to carry out the security recovery operation as the recent incident took place in an isolated area.

Suebu requested that the TNI be very careful in differentiating between OPM members and civilians.

The OPM and the TNI have often carried out operations that have resulted in traumas for civilians in the province.

“If civilians leave the area and then return later, they are often thought of as being OPM members. However, these civilians are often also accused of having helped the TNI in fighting the OPM. So, the civilians are always in a dilemma,” Suebu stated.

To settle the security problems, Suebu suggested the government involve local figures or institutions.

These figures or institutions, Suebu stated, were highly respected by the local people.

This way, the military operation would not have too much of a negative impact on local people.

“So, the government should also use other approaches rather than only a security approach in handling this matter,” said Suebu. (Sapto Pradityo – Tempo News Room)