Lindsay Murdoch, Jakarta – Indonesia is sending 1,300 more combat-ready troops to West Papua as its army chief, General Endriartono Sutarto, warned that secessionist demands could break up the country.
The troops will arrive before a December 1 deadline for independence supporters to pull down the separatist Morning Star flag flying in most towns in the remote province, formerly called Irian Jaya.
"All Indonesian people have to possess and demonstrate a high spirit of nationalism and have healthy souls that will never support national disintegration," General Sutarto said.
"Now we are witnessing many regions demanding to secede from the state ... I call on the people to share a united vision on national integrity and to eliminate their vested interests."
Major Putranto, one of the commanders of the fresh troops, said before leaving the city of Makassar: "We are prepared to defend national sovereignty, because that's our main duty."
Support for independence in the resource-rich province has reached almost fever pitch, and many Papuans have vowed to fight to stop the flag being pulled down.
Human rights and church activists say Jakarta has been steadily boosting its security forces in the province in recent months following the emergence of thousands of black-dressed pro-independence militia who call themselves Satgas Papua (Taskforce Papua).
Observers believe the new troops from the army's Kostrad strategic reserve will take to more than 10,000 the number of police and troops in the province, including a 650-strong police mobile brigade guarding the giant Freeport copper and gold mine, Indonesia's biggest taxpayer.
There are also unconfirmed reports Jakarta has sent elite troops from Kopassus, the unit blamed for orchestrating much of the violence in East Timor last year.
Activists fear Indonesia's security forces have encouraged the formation of the East Timor-style militia to provide an excuse for a brutal military crackdown. The militia are mainly unemployed youths who often extort money and goods from shopkeepers and have become a law unto themselves.
Separatist fighters operating from bases near the border with Papua New Guinea are also threatening to attack Indonesian troops and settlers unless Jakarta gives the province its independence by December 1.
President Abdurrahman Wahid, after adopting a conciliatory approach to the secessionist demands when he took office last year, has hardened his stance in recent weeks, ordering the banning of the separatist flag and a crackdown on the militia and pro-independence leaders.
Police in the provincial capital, Jayapura, said this week that they were preparing to lay separatist charges against Mr Theys Eluay, the president of the pro-independence Papuan Presidium, and six other members. Police have already charged militia commanders with extortion.
A former military commander in West Papua, Major-General Sembiring Meliala, now an MP, told foreign journalists in Jakarta this week that more troops needed to be sent to the province. "We definitely need more personnel to secure Papua. Due to its large area, two or three battalions are not enough. We will do all the necessary measures to curb any separatist movement anywhere in the country. Repressive measures sometimes cannot be avoided."