ad info




Asiaweek
 home
 intelligence
 web features
 magazine archive
 technology
 newsmap
 customer service
 subscribe
 TIMEASIA.COM
 CNN.COM
  east asia
  southeast asia
  south asia
  central asia
  australasia
 BUSINESS
 SPORTS
 SHOWBIZ
 ASIA WEATHER
 ASIA TRAVEL


Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

A RASH OF FLAG-RAISING

Is separatism stirring again in Irian Jaya?

By Jose Manuel Tesoro / Jakarta


Irian Jaya's most recent outburst of pro-independence sentiments started on July 2. A group of protesters in Sorong, a town on the northwestern tip of the province, descended on the local legislative-council building and hoisted the separatist West Papuan flag. One person was reported killed in the ensuing clash with police. The next day, students at Cendrawasih University in Abepura, 10 km from the provincial capital of Jayapura, held a free-speech forum, during which they beat up an intelligence officer in their midst (he later died). Police fired rubber bullets into the crowd, wounding two students. On July 6, demonstrators raised the West Papuan flag in Biak, an island off the northern coast. Up to seven were reported killed and more than 20 wounded when police opened fire. On July 7, the West Papuan flag was unfurled in Wamena, deep in Irian Jaya's interior.

The Free Papua Organization has been carrying out guerrilla activities since the 1960s, and isolated acts of protests and violence have occurred regularly. But this month's rash of flag-raising seems to be spooking the Jakarta government. On July 7, armed forces chief Gen. Wiranto said: "Wherever a flag other than the Indonesian flag is hoisted, there is treachery and [the armed forces] will not tolerate this."

The post-Suharto glasnost could be one reason for the separatists' new boldness, as is the recent release of a report on human-rights violations in the province. Another talking point is a letter given to President B.J. Habibie in May, signed by 15 U.S. congressmen, urging Jakarta to expand "political participation by all Indonesian citizens, particularly those living in areas such as Irian Jaya." That might have led Irianese to think there would be international support for a renewed separatist push.

But a confidential police intelligence report, a copy of which was obtained by Asiaweek, presents another explanation why flags were raised within days in towns scattered throughout nearly 442,000 sq km of territory. According to the report, a week before the banner-waving incidents the provincial governor received a letter from the "West Papuan Liberation Front" warning that protests would take place in nine districts starting July 1.

How can a guerrilla movement long thought to be weakened suddenly become resurgent? The Free Papua Organization has done it before (in 1996, its fighters snatched 26 hostages). But separatist stirrings at this time could hurt more than help Irianese attempts to win a just hearing from Jakarta. They provide the best excuse for troops to crack down harder on a province already bruised by a too-tight grip. Still, after years of perceived exploitation, some Irianese might feel that there is no better time than now to finally show their true colors.


This edition's table of contents | Asiaweek home

AsiaNow


   LATEST HEADLINES:

WASHINGTON
U.S. secretary of state says China should be 'tolerant'

MANILA
Philippine government denies Estrada's claim to presidency

ALLAHABAD
Faith, madness, magic mix at sacred Hindu festival

COLOMBO
Land mine explosion kills 11 Sri Lankan soldiers

TOKYO
Japan claims StarLink found in U.S. corn sample

BANGKOK
Thai party announces first coalition partner



TIME:

COVER: President Joseph Estrada gives in to the chanting crowds on the streets of Manila and agrees to make room for his Vice President

THAILAND: Twin teenage warriors turn themselves in to Bangkok officials

CHINA: Despite official vilification, hip Chinese dig Lamaist culture

PHOTO ESSAY: Estrada Calls Snap Election

WEB-ONLY INTERVIEW: Jimmy Lai on feeling lucky -- and why he's committed to the island state



ASIAWEEK:

COVER: The DoCoMo generation - Japan's leading mobile phone company goes global

Bandwidth Boom: Racing to wire - how underseas cable systems may yet fall short

TAIWAN: Party intrigues add to Chen Shui-bian's woes

JAPAN: Japan's ruling party crushes a rebel ì at a cost

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans need to have more babies. But success breeds selfishness


Launch CNN's Desktop Ticker and get the latest news, delivered right on your desktop!

Today on CNN
 Search

Back to the top   © 2000 Asiaweek. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.

ÿ