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Machete militias clash as self-rule tensions heat up

Source
Sydney Morning Herald - June 8, 2000

Andrew Kilvert, Jayapura – Violence has broken out between militias supporting independence and autonomy in the easternmost Indonesian province of West Papua.

Fighting broke out at Waena in the capital, Jayapura, on Tuesday evening when a pro-autonomy militia known as Satgas Merah Putih (Red and White Taskforce) attacked a group of independence militia with machetes.

One person was taken to hospital and the independence militia Satgas Papua (Papuan Taskforce) detained a number of prisoners at its headquarters in Sentani, outside the city. During the fighting five shops were destroyed by fire and a government office damaged.

While there have been similar clashes in outer districts in recent months, this is believed to be the first case of fighting in the capital between the two groups. The independence militia numbers more than 7,000 and has a high profile, often parading the streets wearing black uniforms and providing security for political leaders who support independence. The pro-Indonesia militia is a clandestine organisation with links to Indonesian authorities through the provincial government. Their strength is not known, but researchers put their number at between 5,000 and 10,000.

Tension on the streets is rising following last week's historic congress at which 501 elected representatives from around the province voted for independence from Indonesia and the formation of an indigenous government.

West Papuan congress leaders sought to avoid breaching Indonesian laws forbidding separatism by avoiding a direct declaration of independence. Instead, they asserted that their independence, achieved from the Dutch in 1961, continued to this day.

President of the Papuan Government, Mr Theys Eluay, said he did not recognise Indonesian rule. "We gained our independence in 1961," he said. "We are an independent country, which has been occupied by an invading army." The Papuan leadership has claimed a mandate to establish, among other things, an electoral commission and a foreign affairs department.

Mr Clemens Runaweri, who was yesterday elected foreign minister, called for dialogue with Jakarta saying. "I would strongly urge the Indonesian Government not to take a hard line with us. We [the Papuan congress] have taken the peaceful path towards democracy in Papua," he said.

On Monday Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid rejected calls for independence and warned that security forces would act to maintain order."

The Papuan congress and its elected leadership have received strong support from several leading figures from the neighbouring Melanesian country of Papua New Guinea.

Mr John Tekwie, the Governor of PNG's Sandaun province, called on the Australian Government to throw its support behind Papuan independence. This is unlikely, given statements by the Prime Minister, Mr Howard, and Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Downer, last week, in which they endorsed Indonesian sovereignty over the territory. Indonesian troop numbers in the province have been bolstered in the past few months from 8,000 to more than 12,000.

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