Security Measures Escalate in Papua

Bintang Papua, 20 August 2011

KNPB, the National Committee for West Papua, is scheduled to announce the results of the meeting organised by ILWP, International Lawyers for West Papua in Oxford, at 9am this morning , at the tomb of Theys Hiyo Eluay.

Bintang Papua also reported that Major-General Erfi Triassumu, commander of the XXVII/Cendrawasih Military Command, said he has not yet had any reports about the results of the ILWP meeting in Oxford, but said that the ILWP event has triggered events affecting the security situation, especially in Papua.

In a meeting with the press, he said that promises made by various groups were causing confusion among the population. It was not only because of the armed activities of civilian groups that had occurred before and after the ILWP meeting. The security situation had indeed intensified throughout Papua recently, which had happened both before and after the ILWP meeting.

Other factors were the election of the governor of Papua as well as the special autonomy law - OTSUS. People were hoping that OTSUS funds would be evenly distributed among the communities, although some of the funds could not yet be released.

He said that he along with the police chief in Papua had together committed to doing what they could to restore a conducive situation in Papua.

Meanwhile, the district chief of Puncak Jaya, Lukas Emenbe. called on everyone whatever their differing opinions to hold a dialogue in order to agree on peaceful solutions. ' All these problems can be resolved,' he said, 'as long as we publicly express our opinions.'

The military commander, asked whether there would be an increase in the number of troops in preparation for the forthcoming Idul Fitri [the last two days of Ramadan] said that organic troops may carry out routine movements because the Korem under Battalion 751 in Sentani does not have special units available for security purposes.

Asked about the manoeuvres by armed groups which had been involved in fighting in urban areas such as in Nafri, he said because of the current civil emergency status, the police would be in the front line together with the local government, because the govrnor, the district chief and the city mayor are the ones who are responsible for security.'

'I will assist if there is a request from the police for additional personnel to help the police,' he said.

ENDS

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