The decision to establish a KOSTRAD headquarters in Timika and to station three new battalions in Papua is likely to upset public opinion. In this era of special autonomy, people want attention to be paid to improving welfare and the quality of life, not another army HQ or more battalions.

A member of the provincial assembly, Paskalis Kosay said he supports any moves by the armed forces to strengthen security. However, locating a KOSTRAD HQ in Timika and stationing three new battalions in Wamena, Timika and Merauke, bringing the total up to six battalions at a time when special autonomy is being developed, will undermine the observance of human rights and the rule of law. This will only intensify the trauma about past military violance during the days when Papua was a military operations zone (DOM). The three battalions already stationed in Papua, along with the resort military commands, are more than enough to cope with security matters, he said.

Petrus Ell, coordinator of Kontras Papua said the allocation of additional TNI units will add to the worries of the people who for years have been treated very unfairly by members of the armed forces. This includes a number of kidnappings by members of the armed forces, notably that of Theys Hijo Eluay, and legal processes which lack transparency and have caused widespread dissatisfaction.

'All religious leaders, community leaders and traditional leaders in Papua have proclaimed Papua as a zone of peace, and this has been announced in all the churches and at every important meeting. The general public respect this declaration, with the result that Papua has remained calm. Why do we need KOSTRAD and more battalions here,' he said.

On a number of occasions, the commander of the provincial military command, KODAM XVII/Trikora, Major General Nurdin Zainal, has said that the armed separatists in Papua amount to not more than 100 people, armed with a few weapons that they have seized from police and the army.

The key to improving stability and security in Papua is to improve welfare.

The struggle being waged by some groups in society to secede from the Unitary Republic of Indonesia is solely for the purpose of securing better living conditions.

Papuans only need a limited number of army or police forces to safeguard the territory. The presence of soldiers or police who understand nothing about the customs and traditions of the Papuan people often creates new problems.

Meanwhile, the Trikora military commander, Major-General Nurdin Zainul said that Papua still needs many battalions to safeguard a territory that is three and a half times the size of Java and which has a 700-kilometre border with Papua New Guinea, stretching from Jayapura to Merauke. He said that before being sent to Papua, the troops are told about the culture, traditions and special characteristics of the Papuan people.

[Slightly abridged translation from Tapol.]