Jayapura – The military commander of XVII/Cenderawasih, Major General Haryadi Soetanto issued a warning on Saturday to remind all adat councils in Papua, including the Dewan Adat Papua (Papuan Traditional Council) that they should not use these institutions for political purposes, or still worse intervene in any way in affairs of State that could undermine the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

He said that as organisations concerned with traditional matters, their function is to concern themselves with issues regarding traditional rights.

Anyone, he said, including other countries can get involved in activities concerning traditional rights, such as for instance Australia, which has its own traditional communities.

But the most important thing to remember, he said, was that their attendance at such events should be solely in connection with traditional rights and not in any any involve intervention in domestic affairs in Indonesia.

"If adat organisations start getting involved in political affairs, this is not right, especially if the objective is to undermine the integrity of NKRI. This must not be allowed to happen."

He stressed that as citizens, we are all required to defend and preserve the unity of the country, which was why he reminds everyone to stick to their own functions and tasks. "Adat councils are not allowed to discuss political matters, still less to do anything that disrupts the integrity of NKRI."

Comment: The background to this warning is not explained in the report. It may be that the Dewan Adat is holding a meeting to which some Australians have been invited.