Jakarta – Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer should stay out of Irian Jaya's affairs, the man spearheading a growing separatist movement in the remote Indonesian province said Thursday.

Theys Eluay, chief of the presidium of the pro-independence Papua Council, challenged Downer's statement last week that Indonesia would disintegrate into a "bloodbath" if its easternmost province, otherwise known as Papua, seceded.

"I ask Alexander Downer not to get involved with Papua's problems. Let the people of Papua discuss Papuan affairs. Australians can discuss Australian affairs," Eluay said during an interview here with AFP. "He doesn't understand our problems, and he doesn't know our history. So don't get involved. Ask first."

Downer made the comment at last week's Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum in Brunei, before Prime Minister John Howard met Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid and reiterated Australia's stance of opposing any further break-up of the archipelaegic republic.

"The fragmentation of Indonesia will lead to a bloodbath, and then people would be coming to me and saying what was I going to do about it," Downer said, rejecting calls for a repeat of a UN-approved vote in 1969 that integrated Irian Jaya into Indonesia, but which Papuans now say was flawed. Downer added that Indonesia's disintegration would have a devastating impact on South-East Asia.

Eluay said Downer should study the history of West Papua before judging its future. "Downer can't reject Papuan independence or support it, until he studies our history," he said. "Learn our history first. When he's studied our history then he can talk."

The people of Irian Jaya declared independence on December 1, 1961 before the former Dutch colony became a part of Indonesia under the 1969 vote.

Eluay said bloodshed was a normal part of any country's struggle for independence. "I'd like to ask Mr Alexander Downer, try to prove where in this world, in which national struggle, in which fight for independence, has there not been blood? It is natural. To have victims, that is normal," he said.

Asked if he thought there were likely to be more victims in Papua's pursuit of independence, Eluay replied. "It's not just a probability. Already 100,000 Papuans have been killed by Indonesia. They're increasing the number of victims all the time."

Eluay said that telling Downer to stay out of Papuan affairs did not contradict efforts by Papuan separatists to lobby Australian politicians and institutions for support. "We have never begged for support. We, very openly, await offers of help from whichever country wants to help. If they want to help us, go ahead. But with joint understanding," he said.

Papuan independence supporters will commemorate the 39th anniversary of Papua's independence declaration next Friday with prayers and thanksgiving in defiance of warnings from Jakarta, Eluay said. "It will be no more than a commemoration. We will not read our [independence] proclamation text, because we already proclaimed independence in 1961. For what would we declare it again?"

There would also be ceremonies to pull down the separatist Morning Star flag at sunset on December 1, before re-hoisting it outside the homes of tribal leaders in five designated districts, Eluay said.

The separatist movement in Irian Jaya has gained momentum following East Timor's split from Indonesia last year. Delegates to a congress held by the Papua Council in June called on Jakarta to recognize the 1961 declaration. Ruling out independence, Jakarta has set May 1, 2001 as the date for implementing the promised broad autonomy.